Defending winner Ryan Blaney DNFs during Stage 2 of Coca-Cola 600

Ryan Blaney turned his entire season around last year at the Coca-Cola 600. The same could not be said for this year’s edition of the race. Blaney is going home early tonight. Good thing is, the track isn’t too far from home for these drivers.

600 miles of racing is a lot. A lot can happen, but you have to be in the race to get yourself back in it from a winning standpoint. Blaney is not getting that chance. His teammate Joey Logano has shown a little bit of speed tonight, though.

Team Penske has had an up-and-down season. Blaney has been the anchor. However, Logano and Austin Cindric have not been as consistent. After Logano’s All-Star Race win, Penske hopes to get back to winning.

After all, they picked up another Indy 500 win tonight. Josef Newgarden went back-to-back while Kyle Larson finished P18 in a good effort.

Ryan Blaney has to figure it out again

Things started off so strong for Ryan Blaney this season. He had three top-5 finishes in the first month of the season. Then a few more races he added another at Martinsville. Since then, he has just one top-10 finish.

With tonight’s P39 finish, Blaney has an average finish of P24 in the last six races. That is far from the standard that the driver and his team hold themselves to. DNFs in the last two races and it is a little worrisome.

Good news, Gateway is next week. Blaney has finished P6 and P4 at the track in the two Cup Series races it has hosted. He can win at that track, but his team has to give him a car capable of keeping up with the other leaders.

Lamar Jackson showed up to the Coca-Cola 600 to support Ryan Blaney. He was sporting a No. 12 shirt at the track. He is going to head out as well after his driver was taken out of the race. A tough end to the day.