Ryan Blaney Bounces Off the Wall in Practice and Still Gets the Pole at COTA

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AUSTIN, TX – RIS – Ryan Blaney hit the wall n practice, but proof that this Nex-Gen car is very sturdy, went on to win the pole for Sunday’s NASCAR Cup race at the Circuit of the Americas road track.  Blaney was surprisingly fast on the 3.41-mile course. He advanced to the final round of qualifying by posting the fifth-fastest speed in Group A, then his average lap of 92.759 mph was enough to hold off a late run by Daniel Suarez (92.741 mph).

“I never would have thought that,” Blaney said. “Sitting on the pole after I hit the fence. Pretty fast car, No. 1’m really proud, man. To sit on the pole, I wouldn’t say I’m the best road course racer. I’m always trying to find speed, but it was cool to have it today in qualifying. Hopefully, it carries over until tomorrow. It’s a pretty good surprise after practice.”

Cole Custer was third-fastest (92.669 mph), Tyler Reddick fourth and Alex Bowman rounded out the top-five. The rest of the top-10 starting lineup are Joey Logano, Christopher Bell, Denny Hamlin, Justin Haley and Austin Cindric.

Cindric spun during his final round qualifying attempt and continued on but it knocked him out of contention for the pole.

The cars went out to qualify in two groups.  Cole Custer was fastest in the first group and Daniel Suarez was fastest in the second. 

“I think we have a pretty solid Mustang,” Custer said. “The guys did a great job in the shop, everybody at Stewart-Haas Racing has been working so hard. The brakes are so big, you’re able to really get after it.”

Kyle Busch, who was fastest in practice, failed to advance to the final round of qualifying. He was not happy.

“No grip, feels horrible, nothing like the first run,” Busch said to his team.  “We’re not gonna (expletive) beat anything. Useless. Pointless. Done. Suck.”

Time Trial Results, 2nd Annual EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix, Circuit of The Americas

Round 1A
Pos, Driver, Car, Time, Speed, # Laps, -Fastest, -Next
1) Cole Custer, No. 41 One Cure Ford, 2:11.832, 93.119 mph, 1, 0.000, 0.000
2) Austin Cindric #, No. 2 Discount Tire Ford, 2:11.935, 93.046, 4, 0.103, 0.103
3) Justin Haley, No. 31 LeafFilter Gutter Protection Chevrolet, 2:12.250, 92.824, 4, 0.418, 0.315
4) Denny Hamlin, No. 11 FedEx Ground Toyota, 2:12.490, 92.656, 3, 0.658, 0.240
5) Ryan Blaney, No. 12 Menards/Richmond Water Heaters Ford, 2:12.632, 92.557, 3, 0.800, 0.142
6) Kurt Busch, No. 45 Monster Energy Toyota, 2:12.669, 92.531, 4, 0.837, 0.037
7) Chase Elliott, No. 9 Llumar Chevrolet, 2:12.698, 92.511, 3, 0.866, 0.029
8) Kyle Larson, No. 5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet, 2:12.698, 92.511, 1, 0.866, 0.000
9) Chase Briscoe, No. 14 Mahindra Tractors Ford, 2:12.782, 92.452, 3, 0.950, 0.084
10) Kyle Busch, No. 18 Skittles Lime is Back Toyota, 2:12.790, 92.447, 4, 0.958, 0.008
11) Martin Truex Jr., No. 19 Bass Pro Shops Toyota, 2:12.994, 92.305, 3, 1.162, 0.204
12) Kevin Harvick, No. 4 GEARWRENCH Ford, 2:13.164, 92.187, 4, 1.332, 0.170
13) AJ Allmendinger(i), No. 16 Action Industries Chevrolet, 2:13.297, 92.095, 1, 1.465, 0.133
14) Bubba Wallace, No. 23 leidos Toyota, 2:13.682, 91.830, 2, 1.850, 0.385
15) Brad Keselowski, No. 6 Wyndham Rewards Ford, 2:14.149, 91.510, 3, 2.317, 0.467
16) Todd Gilliland #, No. 38 Boot Barn Ford, 2:14.324, 91.391, 3, 2.492, 0.175
17) *Kaz Grala(i), No. 50 Pit Viper Sunglasses Chevrolet, 2:14.476, 91.288, 3, 2.644, 0.152
18) Cody Ware, No. 51 Nurtec ODT Ford, 2:15.584, 90.542, 3, 3.752, 1.108
19) Joey Hand, No. 15 Ford Pass Rewards Visa Ford, 0.000, 0.000, 0, -----, -----

Round 1B
Pos, Driver, Car, Time, Speed, # Laps, -Fastest, -Next
1) Daniel Suarez, No. 99 CommScope Chevrolet, 2:11.787, 93.150 mph, 1, 0.000, 0.000
2) Tyler Reddick, No. 8 3CHI Chevrolet, 2:12.276, 92.806, 1, 0.489, 0.489
3) Christopher Bell, No. 20 DeWalt Toyota, 2:12.410, 92.712, 3, 0.623, 0.134
4) Joey Logano, No. 22 Shell Pennzoil Ford, 2:12.538, 92.622, 1, 0.751, 0.128
5) Alex Bowman, No. 48 Ally Chevrolet, 2:12.777, 92.456, 3, 0.990, 0.239
6) Ross Chastain, No. 1 ONX Homes/iFly Chevrolet, 2:12.801, 92.439, 3, 1.014, 0.024
7) Harrison Burton #, No. 21 Freightliner Ford, 2:13.263, 92.119, 3, 1.476, 0.462
8) Austin Dillon, No. 3 Bennett Chevrolet, 2:13.352, 92.057, 3, 1.565, 0.089
9) Chris Buescher, No. 17 Fifth Third Bank Ford, 2:13.356, 92.054, 3, 1.569, 0.004
10) William Byron, No. 24 RaptorTough.com Chevrolet, 2:13.922, 91.665, 4, 2.135, 0.566
11) Aric Almirola, No. 10 Rush/Mobil Delvac 1 Ford, 2:14.137, 91.518, 3, 2.350, 0.215
12) Michael McDowell, No. 34 Love's Travel Stops Ford, 2:14.164, 91.500, 3, 2.377, 0.027
13) Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 47 SunnyD Chevrolet, 2:14.255, 91.438, 3, 2.468, 0.091
14) Erik Jones, No. 43 FOCUSfactor Chevrolet, 2:14.411, 91.332, 3, 2.624, 0.156
15) Corey LaJoie, No. 7 Schluter Systems Chevrolet, 2:14.492, 91.277, 3, 2.705, 0.081
16) Ty Dillon, No. 42 chevyliners.com Chevrolet, 2:14.531, 91.250, 4, 2.744, 0.039
17) Josh Bilicki(i), No. 77 Zeigler Auto Group Chevrolet, 2:15.307, 90.727, 3, 3.520, 0.776
18) *Loris Hezemans(i), No. 27 Hezeberg Systems Ford, 2:15.660, 90.491, 3, 3.873, 0.353
19) Boris Said, No. 66 Bumper.com Ford, 2:18.038, 88.932, 3, 6.251, 2.378
20) Andy Lally(i), No. 78 MaintenanceSupplies.com Ford, 0.000, 0.000, 0, -----, -----

Round 2
Pos, Driver, Car, Time, Speed, Lap #, # Laps, -Fastest, -Next
1) Ryan Blaney, No. 12 Menards/Richmond Water Heaters Ford, 2:12.343, 92.759 mph, 1, 1, 0.000, 0.000
2) Daniel Suarez, No. 99 CommScope Chevrolet, 2:12.369, 92.741, 3, 3, 0.026, 0.026
3) Cole Custer, No. 41 One Cure Ford, 2:12.471, 92.669, 1, 2, 0.128, 0.102
4) Tyler Reddick, No. 8 3CHI Chevrolet, 2:12.552, 92.613, 3, 3, 0.209, 0.081
5) Alex Bowman, No. 48 Ally Chevrolet, 2:12.656, 92.540, 1, 1, 0.313, 0.104
6) Joey Logano, No. 22 Shell Pennzoil Ford, 2:12.892, 92.376, 1, 1, 0.549, 0.236
7) Christopher Bell, No. 20 DeWalt Toyota, 2:12.912, 92.362, 1, 1, 0.569, 0.020
8) Denny Hamlin, No. 11 FedEx Ground Toyota, 2:13.051, 92.265, 1, 1, 0.708, 0.139
9) Justin Haley, No. 31 LeafFilter Gutter Protection Chevrolet, 2:13.566, 91.910, 2, 2, 1.223, 0.515
10) Austin Cindric #, No. 2 Discount Tire Ford, 2:13.940, 91.653, 2, 2, 1.597, 0.374

Starting Line Up, 2nd Annual EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix, Circuit of The Americas
Pos, Driver, Car, Time, Speed
1) Ryan Blaney, No. 12 Menards/Richmond Water Heaters Ford, 2:12.343, 92.759 mph
2) Daniel Suarez, No. 99 CommScope Chevrolet, 2:12.369, 92.741
3) Cole Custer, No. 41 One Cure Ford, 2:12.471, 92.669
4) Tyler Reddick, No. 8 3CHI Chevrolet, 2:12.552, 92.613
5) Alex Bowman, No. 48 Ally Chevrolet, 2:12.656, 92.540
6) Joey Logano, No. 22 Shell Pennzoil Ford, 2:12.892, 92.376
7) Christopher Bell, No. 20 DeWalt Toyota, 2:12.912, 92.362
8) Denny Hamlin, No. 11 FedEx Ground Toyota, 2:13.051, 92.265
9) Justin Haley, No. 31 LeafFilter Gutter Protection Chevrolet, 2:13.566, 91.910
10) Austin Cindric #, No. 2 Discount Tire Ford, 2:13.940, 91.653
11) Kurt Busch, No. 45 Monster Energy Toyota, 2:12.669, 92.531
12) Chase Elliott, No. 9 Llumar Chevrolet, 2:12.698, 92.511
13) Kyle Larson, No. 5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet, 2:12.698, 92.511
14) Chase Briscoe, No. 14 Mahindra Tractors Ford, 2:12.782, 92.452
15) Kyle Busch, No. 18 Skittles Lime is Back Toyota, 2:12.790, 92.447
16) Ross Chastain, No. 1 ONX Homes/iFly Chevrolet, 2:12.801, 92.439
17) Martin Truex Jr., No. 19 Bass Pro Shops Toyota, 2:12.994, 92.305
18) Kevin Harvick, No. 4 GEARWRENCH Ford, 2:13.164, 92.187
19) Harrison Burton #, No. 21 Freightliner Ford, 2:13.263, 92.119
20) AJ Allmendinger(i), No. 16 Action Industries Chevrolet, 2:13.297, 92.095
21) Austin Dillon, No. 3 Bennett Chevrolet, 2:13.352, 92.057
22) Chris Buescher, No. 17 Fifth Third Bank Ford, 2:13.356, 92.054
23) Bubba Wallace, No. 23 leidos Toyota, 2:13.682, 91.830
24) William Byron, No. 24 RaptorTough.com Chevrolet, 2:13.922, 91.665
25) Aric Almirola, No. 10 Rush/Mobil Delvac 1 Ford, 2:14.137, 91.518
26) Brad Keselowski, No. 6 Wyndham Rewards Ford, 2:14.149, 91.510
27) Michael McDowell, No. 34 Love's Travel Stops Ford, 2:14.164, 91.500
28) Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 47 SunnyD Chevrolet, 2:14.255, 91.438
29) Todd Gilliland #, No. 38 Boot Barn Ford, 2:14.324, 91.391
30) Erik Jones, No. 43 FOCUSfactor Chevrolet, 2:14.411, 91.332
31) Kaz Grala(i), No. 50 Pit Viper Sunglasses Chevrolet, 2:14.476, 91.288
32) Corey LaJoie, No. 7 Schluter Systems Chevrolet, 2:14.492, 91.277
33) Ty Dillon, No. 42 chevyliners.com Chevrolet, 2:14.531, 91.250
34) Josh Bilicki(i), No. 77 Zeigler Auto Group Chevrolet, 2:15.307, 90.727
35) Cody Ware, No. 51 Nurtec ODT Ford, 2:15.584, 90.542
36) *Loris Hezemans(i), No. 27 Hezeberg Systems Ford, 2:15.660, 90.491
37) Boris Said, No. 66 Bumper.com Ford, 138.038, 88.932
38) Joey Hand, No. 15 Ford Pass Rewards Visa Ford, 0.000, 0.000
39) Andy Lally(i), No. 78 MaintenanceSupplies.com Ford, 0.000, 0.000
(*) Required to qualify on time, (OP) Top 30 in Owner Points, (PC) Past Champion, (i)Ineligible for driver points in this series, (#) Rookie

Track Qualifying Record: Ryan Blaney, 03/26/22, 2:12.343, 92.759 mph

Ron Fleshman

RIS NASCAR Editor.  Has been with RIS since the middle 90's. Writes on each of the three main series of NASCAR. 

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Volume 2022, Issue 3, Posted 12:52 PM, 03.26.2022