NASHVILLE, Tenn. – On Thursday night at the Music City Center, the NASCAR Champion’s Week festivities concluded with the honoring of Ryan Blaney, who reached the pinnacle of the sport—claiming the NASCAR Cup Series title—by outdueling three other Championship 4 contenders Nov. 5 at Phoenix Raceway.
Ryan Blaney didn’t need to win the race at Phoenix, he just needed to finish ahead of his three competitors to win the title. And that’s exactly what he did, holding off Kyle Larson (P3), William Byron (P4) and Christopher Bell (P36).
AVONDALE, Ariz. – Nov. 5, 2023 – Team Penske driver Ryan Blaney won the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series Championship (Sunday) afternoon on NBC and Peacock – his first career Cup Series title and second straight title for Team Penske after Joey Logano won in 2022.
And then there were four.
Ryan Blaney, Kyle Larson, Christopher Bell and William Byron.
No Denny Hamlin or Martin Truex, Jr. No Kevin Harvick, who is heading to the broadcast booth in 2024. No Chase Elliott, Joey Logano or Kyle Busch.
During the course of the race, Christopher Bell thought his chances of racing for a NASCAR Cup Series championship at Phoenix were slim or none. After just squeaking into points at the end of Stage 1 he was nowhere to be found by the end of Stage 2. Homestead was eating up tires and while there were multiple racing grooves, around the top was the best, plus you needed drive off of the corners to compete. Bell’s car was having none of that and Bell was in a sour mood.
Ryan Blaney came into the Talladega race needing to win one of the next two races and he did just that. He did it by staying in the Top 10 most of the race, avoiding a couple of wrecks and battling Kevin Harvick right to the very end.
It was a must win for many drivers Saturday night at Daytona as the hunt to make the NASCAR Cup playoffs entered its final race. A lot of potential scenarios were in play for a number of drivers. But in the end, a driver already in the playoffs won and ended the playoff hopes for the rest.
As a native New Englander, Ryan Preece spent plenty of summers visiting New Hampshire Motor Speedway. When NASCAR had its annual July race, he and his family would camp with his grandfather outside of Turn 1.
Preece remembers roaming the merchandise lots at the “Magic Mile” on a bicycle, hoping to one day get his shot on the track that he first visited when he was 7 years old. (more…)
LOUDON, N.H. – NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) driver and Berlin, Conn. native Ryan Preece traded in his firesuit for a pair of bib pants Tuesday as he learned what goes in to lobstering from Mike Flanigan, owner and captain of the Sally Rochelle out of Kittery, Maine.
“It was an experience,” said Preece. “I’ve never held a live lobster before, so it was a lot of fun, it was interesting, and I even got the buoy on the first try, so I’m pretty proud of that.” (more…)
BECHTELSVILLE, PA. – Ryan Watt of Boyertown, Pa. charged forward from his tenth place starting spot, grabbed the lead on a lap eight restart, then survived a serious late race challenge from Brett Kressley of Orefield, Pa. to score his first win of the season in the 30-lap T.P. Trailer Modified feature Saturday night at Grandview Speedway. (more…)
