Ryan Blaney has opined that his current Cup Series season is turning out better than his championship-winning year, 2023. The Team Penske driver highlighted his group's improvements after emerging victorious at the Iowa Speedway on Sunday, June 16.
The 0.875-mile oval welcomed the Cup Series for the first time since its inception in 2006. A partial repavement job was done on all four corners, making the overtaking game even more challenging. But the #12 Ford driver battled against the odds and benefitted from his crew chief's two-tire strategy call to bag his maiden win in 2024.
With this Iowa Corn 350 win, Blaney is the only Cup Series winner at the venue and is the only driver to have won at the repaved track in all series — the Xfinity, the Truck, and the Cup.
Trending
A few instances this season have robbed the Ohio native of a potential victory and promising results. The most recent example is his #12 Ford running out of gas during the final lap at the World Wide Technology Raceway, dethroning him as the frontrunner.
Nonetheless, Blaney believes his crew has geared up better than the previous season.
"I feel pretty similar. Honestly, probably even better than where we were last year. I just try to look at where we're at speed-wise in our cars, how is our team executing the races, everyone's doing their job a 100% to their ability. Are we making mistakes or are we not, are we doing everything that we can control," Blaney said via SiriusXM NASCAR Radio on X.
"I think we're doing that better than we did at this time last year. Everyone's executing really well. I think the speed's a little bit better. I think our group is in an even better spot, the mindset is really good right now," the 2023 champion added.
Ryan Blaney's statistics for the first 17 Cup races in 2024 have seen a jump from the previous season
After kicking off the 2023 season's final run from 15th place, Ryan Blaney emerged runner-up in the championship race at Phoenix Raceway, marking his first Cup Series championship. The #12 Ford driver bagged three wins, eight top-5s, 18 top-10s, and led 562 laps.
However, the current season has statistically been better for the 30-year-old. From the first 17 races, until the Nashville Speedway stint on June 25, 2023, the Team Penske driver recorded four top-5s, including a victory at the Charlotte Motor Speedway, and five top-10s. However, this year has seen a spike in the #12 team's performance.
In his 17 attempts this season, Ryan Blaney has clinched the Iowa win, five top-5s and seven top-10s. Moreover, the #12 Ford has seen itself among the frontrunners despite the driver starting many of his runs from the middle to the rear of the pack.
Ryan Blaney has locked his spot in the playoffs and is currently placed seventh in the Cup Series standings. He trails 90 points behind the leader Chase Elliott.
