Ryan Blaney wins at New Hampshire, turns focus to Florida

FORT MYERS, Fla. - Ryan Blaney will head to Florida next weekend with his third win of the season and a chance to defend his Coke Zero Sugar 400 title at Daytona International Speedway.

Blaney won Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, earning his second consecutive victory at the track.

Before the race, Blaney told WINK News he believed his No. 12 Team Penske group was in a strong position entering the final stretch of the regular season.

“I think our group has had a good year so far this year,” Blaney said. “It's nice to be second in points, closing in on the Chase here and then start the 10-week process of grinding it out for 10 weeks to try to win a championship.”

The Cup Series now heads to Daytona for the Coke Zero Sugar 400 on Saturday, Aug. 29. Blaney won the race last year after charging through the field in the closing laps.

“That finish last year at that place was pretty wild for us, coming where we did in the last two, three laps and able to pull that off,” Blaney said. “You never know what's going to happen at those tracks. I've always just tried to keep myself in the game at those races and kind of have the end goal in mind, no matter how you get there.”

Florida could also play a major role in how Blaney’s season ends.

The NASCAR Cup Series championship returns to Homestead-Miami Speedway in November. Blaney finished second there in 2024 after losing the lead on the final lap.

“I gave the race away there a couple years ago on the last corner, which still stings to this day, but it has been a good track for us,” Blaney said. “So I hope that we're still, when we get down to Miami, still in the hunt for the championship.”

Blaney, the 2023 Cup Series champion, said he is excited to see the finale return to Homestead.

“That place is just so much fun,” Blaney said. “That racetrack is incredibly unique. A lot of skill has to go into running well there.”

The Coke Zero Sugar 400 is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Daytona International Speedway.