No driver has gained back-to-back Cup titles because the finish of Jimmie Johnson’s unprecedented five-year run in 2010, and it is by no means been carried out on this risky knockout format. What would it not imply to Ryan Blaney to perform such a feat? In line with the Group Penske driver, it might be even larger than the primary.
“There’s a whole lot of neat milestones all of us can accomplish this weekend,” stated Blaney. “However yeah, I feel it might simply imply quite a bit to return to again. It is one thing that is actually troublesome to do clearly. It hasn’t been carried out shortly. There is a motive for that. It is exhausting to get right here two years in a row after which carry out on the weekend.
“It could imply the world. It could imply greater than the primary, to be sincere with you.”
Ryan Blaney, Group Penske, Menards/Richmond Water Heaters Ford Mustang
Photograph by: Nigel Kinrade / NKP / Motorsport Pictures
Blaney’s path to the Championship 4 can be much like one yr in the past. After successful his approach into the playoffs, he marched ahead by way of every spherical on factors alone earlier than successful the penultimate race of the yr at Martinsville. Blaney additionally famous that the preparation has been “just about the identical” as effectively.
“I am form of an enormous believer you probably have your routine and it really works for you, do not actually do something much less or something extra,” defined Blaney. “Whenever you discover one thing that works for you, for a sure second … That is simply from my facet and Jonathan’s [Hassler, crew chief] facet … However yeah, my prep work? Similar to how I take care of each single weekend. Take a look at previous notes, speak to Jonathan, speak to Timmy [Fedewa, spotter], see the place I feel the observe’s going to be, the place Jonathan thinks it may be, technique. Yeah, I imply, I do not actually method something very totally different it doesn’t matter what race it’s.”
Joey Logano, Group Penske, Shell Pennzoil Ford Mustang, Ryan Blaney, Group Penske, Low cost Tire Ford Mustang
Photograph by: Matthew T. Thacker / NKP / Motorsport Pictures
Nonetheless, there’s something totally different this yr and it includes who he’s racing towards. Group Penske gained the 2022 title with Joey Logano and Blaney in 2023, however this yr, each drivers are within the Championship 4. How does Penske stability that with two groups who continuously share data going for a similar trophy?
“We do an awesome job at communication between the drivers and the crew chiefs, engineers, automobile chiefs,” stated Blaney of Group Penske. “All people is superb at speaking forwards and backwards of what we now have. There’s by no means any secrets and techniques which might be stored it doesn’t matter what it’s. There’s two of us racing for the championship, nonetheless an open e-book.
“And that is not about to alter as they attempt to earn a 3rd straight title for Penske. You do not wish to stray from that path simply since you’re racing towards one another for a championship. You race collectively, towards one another, each week. It’s a must to use your strengths. That is one among our strengths, is communication,” he says.
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