[autotag]Ryan Blaney[/autotag] had a blast from the past on Sunday afternoon as he took the checkered flag at Pocono Raceway. In 2017, Blaney took the famed No. 21 car to victory lane for Wood Brothers Racing’s 99th win. Fast forward seven years, and Blaney took the No. 12 car to victory lane for Team Penske at Pocono, earning his 12th NASCAR Cup Series win of his career.
Following the event, Blaney celebrated and joined the media for his post-race press conference. The defending Cup Series champion was asked about winning at Pocono after earning his first career win at the venue seven years ago.
“I really think it’s just special,” Blaney said. “I feel like every win is very special. You have to cherish them. You never know when the next one is going to come. Hard to believe it’s been seven years since I won the first time here. Time definitely flies. Like I said, different Victory Lane. I think this Victory Lane is pretty neat. All the fans being there, giving them an experience, too. Yeah, I don’t know, I feel like you approach it a little bit differently seven years later.”
RYAN BLANEY WINS!
Seven years after getting his first career NASCAR win at Pocono, he gets it done again. pic.twitter.com/jWqbjFgePC
— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) July 14, 2024
“It was cool that I got my 12th win in the No. 12 car where I got my first win. That’s kind of a neat little tidbit. Just a really cool day. Gianna’s family was here, even cooler for them to be here supporting me. I feel like we’ve let a couple slip away in the last couple months. Good to close one out. Jonathan did an awesome job of sticking to our plan. We had a car that could do it and hold everybody off. Just as special. Maybe, I don’t know, all of ’em are special. That first one is hard to beat.”
Blaney now has two wins during the 2024 NASCAR season and appears to be hitting his stride before the Olympic break. The No. 12 team is climbing up the playoff standings and sits in a much better position than his championship-winning season in 2023. Blaney’s win at Pocono may not have been as emotional as 2017, but it was still a very special moment on Sunday evening.
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