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via Imago
Ryan Blaney
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via Imago
Ryan Blaney
Flashback to Daytona 2021—rain’s pouring, the field’s a mess, and Ryan Blaney’s unfazed. A late delay flips strategies; drivers spin out, but he’s threading needles, dodging wrecks like a ninja. Track dries, he pounces—proof he’s got the knack for wrestling wild conditions. Atlanta’s his next canvas, and he’s painting with confidence. “I can’t tell you much from two laps today,” he shrugs, that easy grin flashing. “We’ll see.” Underneath? A racer itching to outsmart the asphalt and the sky.
Last year’s Atlanta nail-biter—Daniel Suárez’s 0.007-second squeaker over Ryan Blaney and Kyle Busch—set the bar. Blaney was that close, tasting it. Now, he’s back, No. 12 Ford humming, lessons locked in. Picture Dale Earnhardt or Jeff Gordon, legends who danced with Atlanta’s quirks—tire wear, grip shifts, mind games. Blaney’s cut from that cloth, his smooth-as-butter style and track-reading smarts making him a wolf among the pack.
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Ryan Blaney is optimistic about Atlanta after last year’s heartbreak
Ryan Blaney’s got Atlanta Motor Speedway’s number, and Mother Nature’s moody tantrums aren’t rattling him one bit. Sure, the forecast’s flip-flopping like a fish on the dock, but Blaney’s grinning, ready to tame the beast that is this revamped superspeedway. “I thought my car drove fantastic,” he beams after qualifying. “Better than last year—what does that tell me? I don’t know!” That’s Blaney—chill vibes, unshakable swagger, even as temps tease a shake-up. “Maybe warmer tomorrow changes things,” he muses. “I hope it hits the 50s—I’d love hotter. Guys’ll struggle, handling’ll kick in.” Bring it on, he says—chaos is his playground!
Atlanta’s no picnic—it’s much different than the likes of Daytona or Talladega, forcing drivers into action to take command of their machines. Blaney? He’s cracked its code. “The track’s getting better year after year,” he says, eyes gleaming. “That third lane’s wide open now—you’ll see it in play. Slipping, sliding—that’s what makes this place sing.” It’s not just speed here; it’s savvy, and Blaney’s got it in spades. “My car drove better than last year,” he says, a quiet fire simmering. He’s not fazed by Mother Nature’s curveballs—rain delays, temp swings, whatever. Daytona ’21 showed he’s a storm whisperer; Atlanta’s his next proving ground. “Slipping and sliding—that’s good racing,” he nods, picturing the dance.
Ryan Blaney will lead the field to green today and he hopes it is warmer than it was during qualifying Saturday at Atlanta. And it’s not because he doesn’t want to be cold. @NASCARONFOX pic.twitter.com/MKL80sfvpG
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) February 23, 2025
Weather’s the wild card—temps yo-yoing from 52°F Saturday to 55°F Sunday, a whisper of rain (11-12%) lurking. Blaney doesn’t blink. “I hope it warms up,” he says, craving that slick, handling-heavy showdown. Atlanta’s third lane’s his ace—aged pavement’s gift to the bold. While some’ll wrestle tires and pray, Blaney’s liking his chops, ready to slide past the strugglers. Earnhardt thrived on this stuff—patient, ruthless. Gordon too, carving wins from chaos. Blaney’s channeling that vibe, turning unpredictability into his edge.
Come Sunday’s Ambetter Health 400, Blaney’s not just battling the field—he’s dueling Atlanta itself. Tires’ll scream, the third lane tempts, and he’ll be there, cool as ice, cracking the code. Fans, this is Blaney’s shot—skill over luck, mastery over mayhem. Will he snag that elusive Atlanta crown? Bet on it—he’s ready to outfox the track and the heavens.
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Ryan Blaney’s Pole Sparks Team Penske’s Atlanta Assault
NASCAR fans, Ryan Blaney’s back where he belongs—planting the No. 12 Ford on the pole for the 2025 Ambetter Health 400 at Atlanta Motor Speedway! The Ohio hotshot’s got his Team Penske posse riding shotgun, with Austin Cindric snagging P2 and Joey Logano locking P4. This ain’t luck—it’s Penske power, baby, the crew that’s owned the Next-Gen era, snatching all three Cup titles since 2022. Daytona’s opener was a mess—Logano’s three-wide gamble crashed the party, dragging Blaney down—but Atlanta? They’re roaring back, engines blazing!
Blaney’s spilling the secret sauce: “We bring really fast cars, sure, but it’s teamwork—finding each other, sticking tight. We do it better than anyone.” Superspeedways are Penske’s playground—Logano, Cindric, Blaney, they’ve led the pack at Daytona, Talladega, and Atlanta since the Next-Gen rolled in. Blaney’s Atlanta stats? A dazzling 7.2 average finish—he’s cracked this track’s code. But hold up—Daniel Suárez, last year’s photo-finish king, nipped him by 0.003 seconds and sits at 7.3. It’s a showdown brewing, and Blaney’s itching to flip the script!
Picture Penske’s trio up front, a wall of Fords ready to tame Atlanta’s wild, tire-eating beast. “We’re committed to each other,” Blaney says, that steely grin flashing. Daytona’s wreck—Logano’s misfire—stung, but this pole’s a middle finger to misfortune. Blaney’s got redemption in his sights, haunted by last year’s near-miss. Atlanta’s third lane, slicker than ever, is his canvas—skill, guts, and Penske magic his brushes. Suárez looms, that 2024 thriller still stinging, but Blaney’s crew’s a hive mind, unbeatable when they click.
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Sunday’s green flag drops, and it’s Penske’s charge—Blaney leading the pack, Cindric and Logano flanking like wingmen. Can he outfox Suárez and seal the deal? Fans, this is Team Penske unleashed—will Blaney grab that Atlanta crown? Strap in—we’re about to find out!
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Can Ryan Blaney channel his inner Earnhardt to conquer Atlanta's unpredictable track this weekend?
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