On Facebook
On Flipboard
On Twitter
Why Ryan Blaney should be feeling confident going into off weekend
Until the last two races at Darlington and Bristol, Team Penske's Ryan Blaney was likely counting down the days leading up to Easter weekend.
Since the stars of the NASCAR Cup Series took to the high banks of Daytona in February, this weekend represents the only off time for the series before going all the way to the championship race at Phoenix on Nov. 2.
Everything started on the right foot for Blaney with a pair of top 10s to open the season at Daytona and Atlanta. In the five races that followed, Blaney did not have a single top 10, including three straight DNFs that resulted in finishes of 28th or worse.
Since that difficult stretch, Blaney has finished fifth the last two weeks at Darlington and Bristol, leading laps in both races. He was on his way to winning at Darlington before a late spin from Hendrick Motorsports' Kyle Larson and led 48 laps at Thunder Valley before having to pit for fuel late.
The laps out front in Bristol were due to an alternate strategy where Blaney stayed out longer than the rest of the field, but he was near the front of the field for most of the race and had a good car underneath him to be able to take a chance.
Even with the blown engine at Homestead, Blaney led a commanding 124 laps and appeared to have the dominant car that day, but left with nothing to show for it.
The biggest inconsistency on the No. 12 team this season has been the pit crew. Prior to Bristol, NASCAR Insights had Blaney's pit crew ranked 25th on average, per NASCAR.com. With a clean, mistake-free day on Sunday, they were rated the eighth-best pit crew, showing how dangerous this team can be when driver and crew are firing on all cylinders.
There is a good chance the recent momentum swing will carry over for Blaney when the Cup Series returns to action at Talladega Superspeedway on Sunday, April 27 (3 p.m. ET, Fox, MRN Radio, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).
Despite its chaotic nature and the unpredictability that comes with pack racing, Blaney has three wins in 21 starts at the track and should be in contention for another victory in Alabama.
Even though the results did not match the pace of the No. 12 Ford for most weeks, Blaney's recent surge has him sixth in the standings and in the thick of the regular season championship battle.
If the pit crew continues to improve and Blaney can execute on the track, the long-run speed in his Mustang has been hard to match through nine races. As cars return to the track in a week, expect Blaney to string more consistent results together and park it in victory lane at any point.
More must-reads:
- Why the on-track rivalry between Kyle Larson, Denny Hamlin is not going away
- Why Rockingham Speedway's second comeback will be more successful than its first
- The 'Bank of America Roval 400 champions' quiz
Breaking News
Trending News
TODAY'S BEST
Reporter makes controversial claim about NASCAR championship, playoff format
The debate surrounding NASCAR's playoff format may be the hottest topic in the proverbial garage area, and one NASCAR personality certainly stirred up social media with his take on the championship on Sunday. Mamba Smith, a reporter for Bleacher Report, TNT and truTV's coverage of NASCAR, offered his opinion on the definition of NASCAR's championship on Sunday, and it certainly had fans riled up. "The point isn’t to crown the best driver … It’s to crown the best team who executed the best when the pressure was at its highest and the lights were the brightest," Smith said in a social media post. NASCAR's playoff format has been criticized for the relatively random and chaotic nature in which it facilitates who makes and advances through the postseason. Fans often complain that the best driver over the course of a given season is not rewarded with the championship at season's end. Smith's take that the purpose of the playoffs and driver's championship isn't to crown the best driver is certainly interesting. In addition to the driver's championship, NASCAR also has an owners championship, giving the entirety of a race team the opportunity to shine and make their mark. However, if the point of a driver's championship in any racing series isn't to crown the best driver, the championship loses value. Perhaps the greatest appeal for race fans is the fact that they get to see drivers perform extraordinary feats on a regular basis throughout a season in the hunt for a coveted championship. If the point of a racing championship isn't to reward the best driver, there seems to be little point in keeping up with championship points at all.
Aaron Judge seemed annoyed with Aaron Boone over troubling health update
New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone offered a concerning update on Tuesday about Aaron Judge's recovery from an elbow injury, and the slugger did not seem thrilled about that. Judge returned to the Yankees' lineup on Aug. 5 following a 10-day stint on the injured list. The two-time American League MVP had a flexor strain in his throwing elbow, and he has been slotted in as New York's designated hitter since he returned. In an interview with WFAN on Tuesday morning, Boone said he does not believe that Judge will get back to "throwing like he normally does" at any point for the remainder of the season. Judge was caught off guard by his manager's remarks. Before Tuesday night's game against the Tampa Bay Rays, Judge told reporters that he is unsure of why Boone provided the pessimistic update. "I don’t know why he said that. He hasn’t seen me throw the past two weeks," Judge said. "I’m pretty confident I’ll get back to that.” Boone later admitted that he may have misspoken during the WFAN interview. Many were surprised by the apparent disconnect between Judge and Boone. It is possible that what Boone said in the initial interview was accurate, and Judge did not want that information to be made public. The alternative is that Boone is not completely up to speed on his best player's recovery from an injury, which would be a bad look for the manager. Judge is batting .333 with 39 home runs and 91 RBI this season. His bat is far more important to the Yankees than his glove, but he has struggled at the plate a bit since returning. Judge is batting just .229 with a .429 slugging percentage in 11 games since he came off the injured list.
Projected Brian Robinson Jr. trade to Bears gives Commanders big win
The Washington Commanders could be big winners in a projected trade scenario that ships running back Brian Robinson Jr. to the Chicago Bears. Bleacher Report’s Moe Moton laid out a proposal in which Chicago would get Robinson, while Washington would receive a 2026 fourth-round pick and guard Ryan Bates. On paper, it’s the kind of deal that helps both sides, but the Commanders may walk away with the bigger haul. Why the Bears Would Make the Deal “As the Detroit Lions' offensive coordinator between 2022 and 2024, Bears head coach Ben Johnson built his offense around a robust ground attack. He inherited a roster with D’Andre Swift and Roschon Johnson as a backfield duo, but Chicago could make a move for a player who’s familiar with running backs coach Eric Bieniemy.” That connection is key. Robinson played under Bieniemy when he was Washington’s offensive coordinator in 2023. While Bieniemy wasn’t known for leaning heavily on the run, he still helped showcase Robinson’s versatility. “In 2023, Bieniemy was the Commanders' offensive coordinator. Though he didn’t make a strong commitment to the run game, his offense allowed Robinson to display his pass-catching ability. The bruising 6’1”, 225-pound tailback logged career highs across multiple receiving categories.” For Chicago, the timing makes sense. Johnson is currently sidelined with a foot injury, and even if it’s minor, the Bears may not feel comfortable relying on him as their No. 2 back. Swift has also battled injuries throughout his career, and while rookie Kyle Monangai has earned praise from GM Ryan Poles, it’s a stretch to expect a seventh-rounder to immediately carry a big role. Robinson gives them insurance and a proven starter who knows Bieniemy’s coaching style. Why the Commanders Win Big From Washington’s perspective, the proposed return is what makes this deal intriguing. The Commanders would add a 2026 fourth-round pick, giving GM Adam Peters more draft flexibility down the road. But perhaps more importantly, they’d also get Ryan Bates, a versatile interior lineman who can start at guard. “In return for Robinson, the Commanders should inquire about Bates, who was acquired by the Bears before they hired Johnson and his coaching staff. The versatile interior offensive lineman could start at left guard over Brandon Coleman, who’s moving inside from left tackle.” That’s a big plus for a team determined to build a sturdy line in front of Jayden Daniels. With Laremy Tunsil at left tackle and first-round pick Josh Conerly Jr. on the right side, adding Bates would give Washington even more stability. It’s only a projected deal, but it’s the kind of scenario that feels like a win-win. Chicago would shore up its backfield, and Washington would continue to build around its young quarterback. If a trade like this comes together, the Commanders might end up feeling like the biggest winners.
Jets HC Aaron Glenn addresses Breece Hall trade speculation
New York Jets running back Breece Hall has been the subject of trade speculation this offseason, but head coach Aaron Glenn insists he is not anticipating the departure of his star running back. Glenn told reporters on Tuesday that the Jets plan to rotate three running backs at the start of the season. The first-year coach said he believes Hall and second-year backs Braelon Allen and Isaiah Davis all have different skill sets that will complement each other. "We have like three good running backs, and I keep saying that," Glenn said, via Kevin Patra of NFL.com. "Listen, they all have different skill sets that we’re going to utilize. And that does not mean that I’m trading Breece. OK? Does not! So, I’m going to say that right now. I just like having three good guys. Hell, I wish I had more, but we don’t." Hall led the Jets with 876 rushing yards last season. He has five rushing touchdowns in each of the last two seasons. The former second-round pick was shot out of a cannon during the first half of his rookie season in 2022, but he suffered a torn ACL in Week 7. He has still been plenty effective since returning and fell just short of 1,000 rushing yards in 2023. Allen rushed for 334 yards and averaged a modest 3.6 yards per carry as a rookie last season. Davis averaged 5.8 yards per carry on limited opportunities in 2024, and there has been talk that he is a "favorite" of Glenn’s coaching staff. Where Hall has been particularly valuable is in the passing game. He had 76 catches for 591 yards and four touchdowns in 2023 and 57 catches for 483 yards and three receiving scores last season. The Jets signed both wide receiver Garrett Wilson and cornerback Sauce Gardner — two of their other 2022 draft picks — to big contract extensions this offseason. One line of thinking is that they will not want to give Hall a lucrative extension as well, so they could shop him ahead of the trade deadline if he gets off to a hot start. Hall had a cryptic post on social media back in April after a report claimed he was being shopped in trade talks. For now, Glenn wants everyone to think his most explosive back is not going anywhere. That could easily change in the coming weeks or months.
Customize Your Newsletter
+
Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!
PRIVACY POLICY EDITORIAL POLICY CONTACT US
ABOUT YARDBARKER TERMS OF SERVICE
Use of this website (including any and all parts and
components) constitutes your acceptance of these
Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
This site is for entertainment purposes only.
There is no gambling offered on this site.
Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-Gambler.
