"Shame to lose one on last lap": Disappointed Ryan Blaney makes his feelings known about lackluster final dash as Tyler Reddick scripts history

The Homestead-Miami Speedway ended dramatically, shattering Team Penske driver Ryan Blaney's dream of joining his teammate Joey Logano in the Championship 4 at Phoneix Raceway. However, Tyler Reddick had different plans and took the lead from Blaney in the last lap of the race, advancing to the next round of playoffs. He then expressed his views on the whole fiasco.

Team Penske driver qualified in P20 for the race and soon made his way to the top ten cars. Tyler Reddick led stage 1 of the race, and Blaney was in fourth place and finished in P5 in stage 2. But during the final stage, Blaney took the lead and led the pack.

Ryan Blaney lost the lead while the pit stopped and gained back in lap 266, but during lap 267, Reddick used the high lane and snuck the victory. Later in a post-race interview, he expressed his disappointment over the last lap and said:

"I just didn't really have a good last lap. I didn't really get to the bottom like I wanted to, and then wanted to, and I kind of gave the 45 a little clean air, and then he just got a big shot by the 11 down the back. And I didn't know which way he was going to go. I want to see. I mean, it was like, time down, perfect for him. I'm like, getting to my bumper as soon as we got to the corner. And I thought, well, if I go in fast, like, kind of a couple ways off the wall, and kind of just slide up and be good." [00:00]

Ryan Blaney continued:

"I saw that, I sent it in there, and he sent it in there miles further than me, which I cannot believe it stuck, but it was gonna be that really good all day. Just entry speed was crazy fast and benefited in there. But yeah, staying some up and down day, and just, shame to lose one on last lap like that." [00:47]

23XI Racing driver Tyler Reddick made history with his win at the Homestead-Miami Speedway and entered the Championship 4 round for the first time since their debut in 2021.

Ryan Blaney's record at Martinsville Speedway

Team Penske's driver Ryan Blaney is in a must-win situation to advance to the Championship 4 round and needs to win the Xfinity 500 race scheduled for November 3, 2024, at Martinsville Speedway. Blaney has secured only one win on the track. winning the Xfinity 500 race held on October 29, 2023.

He started the race in 11th place, made his way to the top, and dominated the first two stages. The 30-year-old secured second place in Stage 1 and finished first in Stage 2. He maintained his lead and led 145 laps in the 500-lap race. He won the race, moving to the Championship 4 round, and clinched the championship title.

The #12 Ford Mustang Dark Horse driver raced 17 times on the Martinsville track and bagged nine top-five finishes. However, things are a bit different for Ryan Blaney. He ranks seventh in the playoff rankings and 38 points below the cut line. He is on the bubble with drivers including Kyle Larson, Denny Hamlin, and Chase Elliot.