Ryan Blaney comes up short of Cook Out Clash win

WINSTON SALEM, N.C. – In what turned out to be a near-carbon copy of the fall race at Martinsville Speedway, Ryan Blaney chased down Chase Elliott late in Sunday’s Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium.

This time, Blaney had to settle for second.

After spinning in his heat race and having to repair a water cooler and radiator heading into Sunday, Blaney, the runner-up in the 2024, championship, had to use the points provisional to advance into the Clash. He used some laps in the last chance qualifier to test his repaired equipment before opting to pull off before the finish and start at the tail of the Clash field. 

Starting last — 23rd — was far from ideal for Blaney, especially at a short and narrow track like Bowman Gray Stadium where passing is a challenge. But once the field spread out, the track raced more like a compact version of Martinsville, where Blaney has won two of the last three Cup races.

While 200 laps can feel quick on a short track like Bowman Gray Stadium, it was long enough for Blaney to methodically make his way through the field.

By the halfway break, Blaney found himself inside the top 10.

With 80 laps to go, Blaney cracked the top five. 28 laps later, he wheeled his way into second, setting up a rematch of the fall Martinsville race with Elliott.

Unfortunately for Blaney, his tires didn’t have enough life in them to get his No. 12 Ford by Elliott’s No. 9 Chevrolet. He had to settle for second.

Blaney explained after the race that he wasn’t willing to risk wrecking the No. 9 car to move him out of the way. The two drivers have a good friendship and Blaney added he didn’t want to be run out of the stadium with pitchforks. 

The two past NASCAR Cup Series champions appear to have picked up from the respective hot streaks they ended the 2024 season on. As the Cup Series shifts its focus to the start of the regular season, both drivers are among the favorites for the Feb. 16, 2025 Daytona 500.