Ryan Blaney holds the ‘12 crew’ in high regard for a ‘solid’ Martinsville race: “The people I want behind me”

Modified Apr 01, 2025 00:24 GMT

NASCAR: Cup Practice and Qualifying - Source: Imagn — Ryan Blaney during the 2025 Shrines Children’s 500 - Source: Imagn

Following a disappointing three-week stretch, Ryan Blaney returned to form at Martinsville Speedway with an 11th-place finish. He credited the No. 12 crew for a strong race weekend, saying they are the right fit for his NASCAR campaign.

Driving the No. 12 Ford Mustang for Team Penske, Blaney, who had three consecutive DNFs, started the Martinsville race 32nd. He concluded stage two with a sixth-place finish before crossing the checkered flag in 11th, with Denny Hamlin winning the race.

Ryan Blaney applauded his team for a job well done at Martinsville Speedway and hoped to continue the momentum at Darlington Raceway. He made a post on X that read:

"These are the people I want behind me. This 12 Crew is solid. We fought all weekend to get back to where we belong - up front. Looking forward to keeping the momentum going into Darlington."

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In one of the photos on the post, the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series champion left a note reflecting on the No. 12 group's performance at the 0.526-mile track.

"Really proud of the effort from our 12 group after the way our weekend started," Blaney wrote.

"The strategy played into our favor early to gain back some track position, and the changes we made throughout the day allowed us to maintain in the top 10. Just needed a little more for the final run there, but a solid day to get us back in the right direction," he added.

Ryan Blaney driving the No. 12 Ford Mustang at Martinsville Speedway - Source: Imagn

After the race, Ryan Blaney retained his 10th spot in the points standings behind Team Penske teammate Joey Logano. The No. 12 driver has scored 193 points (66 points behind leader William Byron) with one top-5 and two top-10 finishes.

The 31-year-old will attempt to post another strong race weekend at Darlington Raceway, taking place next Sunday from 3:00 p.m. ET.

Ryan Blaney set to honor father Dave with throwback livery at Darlington

Ryan Blaney will pay homage to his father, Dave, on his No. 12 Ford Mustang on the upcoming Darlington Throwback Weekend. The Team Penske driver will run a paint scheme reminiscent of Dave Blaney's Hass Avacados livery from 2006.

The reference car was the only one Dave Blaney brought to victory lane in a Nationwide Series (Xfinity) race at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

"Taking it back to 2006," Team Penske wrote on X.

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His teammates, Joey Logano and Austin Cindric, will also participate in the Darlington Throwback Weekend.

Joey Logano will feature Cale Yarborough's tri-color paint scheme from 1976 on his No. 12 Ford. The season marked the first year Yarborough won his first of three championships. Both Logano and Yarborough are three-time champions.

Meanwhile, Austin Cindric will sport a Dale Earnhardt Sr. throwback paint scheme from the late 1970s. At the time, Dale Sr. won the 1979 Rookie of the Year award before winning his first of seven NASCAR championships the following year.

Team Penske will enter the Goodyear 400 at Darlington Raceway as the team with the most laps led combined at 566 (Joe Gibbs Racing comes second with 446 laps led).

About the author

Zarec Sanchez got into cars as a kid when the NASCAR-based movie "Cars" came out. Fast forward to today, he gets to write about the sport with Sportskeeda. He is a seasoned writer with over six years of experience in aviation and automotive journalism. After completing his associate degree in aviation, he started his career as an aviation writer before transitioning into the automotive and motorsports fields, contributing to publications such as Stars Aviation, Philkotse, Daily Tribune, and CarBuzz.

Dedicated to providing accurate and relevant content, Zarec ensures his work reflects both his character and the company's guidelines. He stays updated with the latest developments in motorsports by utilizing various resources, including fan interactions that offer unique perspectives. He also attends media events to test-drive new cars and interview industry leaders.

While he has a deep appreciation for both drivers and constructors, Zarec finds himself drawn to the strategy and history behind the constructor battles. He is excited about the future of F1, especially with the entry of brands like Ford and the shift towards an electrified era.

He believes NASCAR has the potential to expand its global reach and popularity, although he feels it should avoid becoming fully electric. When away from his keyboard, Zarec likes to watch any content related to aviation, such as flight trip reports.

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Edited by Anisha Chatterjee