{"id":1551336,"date":"2023-02-25T10:11:00","date_gmt":"2023-02-25T15:11:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sports7.us\/?p=1551336"},"modified":"2023-02-25T10:11:15","modified_gmt":"2023-02-25T15:11:15","slug":"ryan-blaney-his-no-12-crew-proved-daytona-why-theyll-again-title-contenders-2023","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sports7.us\/news\/ryan-blaney-his-no-12-crew-proved-daytona-why-theyll-again-title-contenders-2023\/","title":{"rendered":"Ryan Blaney and His No. 12 Crew Proved at Daytona Why They'll Again Be Title Contenders in 2023"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Ryan Blaney has developed into one of the most effective superspeedway racers in NASCAR<\/a>. But he has recently had to use a different skill set to post positive finishes and one that has turned him into an annual championship contender.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Blaney\u2019s Cup Series career at Daytona International Speedway<\/a> started off shakily. He did not finish higher than 14th in his first three races at the World Center of Racing, but he finished second in the 2017 Daytona 500<\/a> and has now finished sixth or higher in five of his last seven races at the 2.5-mile facility since the start of the 2020 season, including a win in the 2021 regular-season finale.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He has become adept at superspeedways, in general. His 9.9 combined average finishing position at Daytona and Talladega Superspeedway since 2020 is tops among all drivers who have at least five starts at those two tracks since then. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He also leads the series with eight top 10s in his last 13 superspeedway races, while his five top-five finishes rank second only to Denny Hamlin. He and Hamlin are also the only two drivers with two wins on superspeedways in that time period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ryan Blaney\u2019s luck has been tested lately at superspeedway races<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Memorable Moments of the 2022 NASCAR Season (according to @bobpockrass<\/a>).

"#7: Austin Cindric uses a block on Penske teammate Ryan Blaney to kick off his rookie season as the
#DAYTONA500<\/a> winner." pic.twitter.com\/res1mqfztS<\/a><\/p>— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) December 8, 2022<\/a><\/blockquote>