“It’s pretty simple. We got to win one of the next two weeks. Hopefully, we can rebound and do it.” Ryan Blaney said this after his day at Las Vegas ended in a heartbreak DNF when his No. 12 Ford got slammed in late stage 1. Blaney, who started the Round of 8 second in points, now sits at the bottom. Yet, that calm post-race tone hints at the quiet mental strength he’s built through seasons of close calls and comebacks.

This isn’t Blaney’s first encounter with playoff peril. Back in 2023, he grabbed sixth at Vegas and second at Homestead, only to face a must-win at Martinsville, where he delivered a clutch victory to punch his ticket to Phoenix and eventually won the title. Now in 2025, with three spots left for Phoenix after Hamlin’s triumph at Vegas, Blaney eyes Talladega and Martinsvi

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