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Ryan Blaney’s Electrifying Run from Dead Last to Second at Bowman Gray: So Close, Yet So Far

David Castro by David Castro
February 3, 2025
in Motorsports
Reading Time: 4 mins read
0
Ryan Blaney’s Electrifying Run from Dead Last to Second at Bowman Gray: So Close, Yet So Far

Feb 1, 2025; WInston-Salem, North Carolina, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Ryan Blaney (12) wrecks during the heat races for the Clash at Bowman Gray at Bowman Gray Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter Casey-Imagn Images

In NASCAR, gutsy drives define legacies, and Ryan Blaney just delivered one for the ages.

Coming from dead last to finish second at the 2025 Clash at Bowman Gray, Blaney turned a near-hopeless start into a thrilling chase for victory, pushing Chase Elliott to the limit before his tires cried for mercy. The Team Penske driver was relentless, methodical, and, in the end, heartbreakingly close to pulling off a miraculous win.

Blaney’s Fight from the Back: A Gritty Charge to the Front

Blaney’s night started in the worst possible position—last place. After missing out on direct qualification through the heat races, he was forced to take a provisional start, putting him 23rd on the grid. But this setback did little to deter him.

The No. 12 team had already been through the wringer before the race even began. Hours before the Last Chance Qualifier, a hole in the water cooler forced an emergency parts swap, sending them to the rear of the field for the LCQ. Knowing they had the provisional spot secured, Blaney’s team used the LCQ for a quick 23-lap shakedown before parking it to prepare for the main event.

Then, the real show began.

A Calculated Climb Through the Pack

The opening 100 laps at Bowman Gray were an exercise in patience and precision for Blaney. With only two caution flags, there were few chances for easy gains—every pass had to be made the hard way. Yet, by the halfway break, he had stormed from 23rd to 10th, setting the stage for an even bigger push in the final half.

Blaney wasted no time. Restarting from tenth, he picked off cars one by one, eventually settling into second place with 50 laps to go. The only problem? Chase Elliott stood between him and victory.

A Game of Strategy, Grit, and Worn-Out Tires

For 50 laps, Blaney and Elliott played a high-speed chess match. The Penske driver knew he had to be patient, conserving his tires for a final push. The moment to strike came with 25 laps to go, and Blaney threw everything he had at it.

But physics had other plans.

“I started pushing with 25 to go, and I just didn’t have enough,” Blaney admitted. “I was like, ‘Uh oh.’ I needed some help by lappers and I just never really could get there.”

Despite his best efforts, Blaney’s right-rear tire burned out, leaving him unable to complete the pass. He could turn better than Elliott, but Elliott had the stronger drive-off, meaning he could get back on the throttle quicker out of the corners.

“If you swapped our cars, I don’t think we would have passed each other,” Blaney said. “I was not going to make that pass and couldn’t just bulldog into him and get chased out of here with pitchforks.”

In other words, the opportunity just never fully materialized, and Blaney had no intention of turning Elliott into the wall for a hollow win.

Chase Elliott’s Respect for Blaney’s Epic Drive

Even Elliott, the night’s victor, was in awe of Blaney’s comeback.

“When I saw him, I was, like, ‘Man, didn’t he start last?’” Elliott said. “Then I thought about it a little more (and) I thought, that’s really not all that surprising as good as he was at Martinsville in the fall.”

The Bowman Gray quarter-mile oval isn’t far removed from Martinsville, where Blaney has already proven himself a master of short-track finesse. The difference here? Elliott had just enough to fend him off.

Blaney Proves Once Again: He’s a Championship-Caliber Driver

While second place isn’t the trophy Blaney wanted, his gritty run at Bowman Gray sent a loud and clear message:

Ryan Blaney is one of the most resilient and methodical drivers in NASCAR today.

Coming from dead last to runner-up at one of the sport’s tightest, most chaotic bullrings? That’s a statement drive. That’s the kind of performance that builds championship runs.

And if the 2025 NASCAR season has anything in store for us, it’s that Ryan Blaney won’t be denied for long.

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