Blaney makes mark with Daytona runner-up finish

A career-best finish in Sunday’s 59th annual Daytona 500 put an exclamation point on a strong Speedweeks showing for Ryan Blaney.

The No. 21 Ford came home second, which bested Blaney's three previous fourth-place feats. He also led two laps in the event. In contention for the victory as drivers around him began running out of fuel, Blaney made it to the finish line as his machine began to sputter.

"I thought we had a good car all day to start off," Blaney said. "We showed that definitely in the first half of the race. Then we got some damage there in one of those big wrecks about the middle of the race. Kind of hurt our car a little bit."

With the laps winding down and Chase Elliott leading a single-file line around the top of track, Blaney thought his race was over when he tried to make a move with 10 laps to go. Luckily, Ford teammate Joey Logano went with him and Blaney found himself on a ride toward the front of the field and behind eventual winner Kurt Busch.

"A good showing for us," Blaney said. "It was a good way to start off the year. Stinks to be so close, but I think that's good momentum for our team, to be good at the beginning of the day, get some damage and be able to rally for a good finish."

The finish came in spite of starting in the rear after the Wood Brothers had to pull out a backup car after the Can-Am Duel races Thursday night.

One of the strongest cars in the Duel field, Blaney finished 19th after contact with Jimmie Johnson. Adding to the disappointment of losing the backup car was that Blaney had been running inside the top five at the time.

Blaney described the primary car as spectacular, but the backup was just as good – as were his confidence and drafting moves. Both Thursday and Sunday the fourth-year Cup driver was able to work his way through the field with aggressive but smart moves, and even challenged for the lead.

Blaney said it was the result of confidence in his car and his growing comfort in restrictor-plate racing.

"We were able to come from the back really early and were able to drive up through the middle and be aggressive when the time was right," Blaney said. "We were able to stay up there. I think our car had enough time to stay up there, too."

The only thing Blaney didn't do was grab the lead at the right time where it would allow him to be the one manipulating both lanes. Taking the blame for perhaps not doing something that he could have to get the right run, it was the only blemish on Blaney's Daytona weekend.

"It was definitely a little bit of both with the car and myself, and myself and Josh Williams up top, my spotter, getting a little bit more comfortable with each other and communicating really well," Blaney said.

"He hasn't been spotting very long. He spotted for AJ [Allmendinger] a couple years ago. He only started a couple years before that. He has a lot to learn, but he's done a great job. He's been a big part it (the performance), as well."