Ryan Blaney Kentucky Truck Post-Race Report

Ryan Blaney (@RyanBlaney22), driver of the Brad Keselowski Racing (@TeamBKR) No. 29 Cooper Standard Ford F-150, made his second career start at Kentucky Speedway in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) UNOH 225 under the lights Thursday night. After capturing his first pole and BKR’s first Truck pole in qualifying earlier in the day, Blaney started the night in command of the field.

Blaney kept his Cooper Standard Ford out front until the first caution flag fell on lap 26 due to engine failure on the No. 62. Crew chief, Doug Randolph, brought the No. 29 machine on to pit road for a slight air pressure adjustment, four tires and fuel. Blaney restarted in the fourth position and by lap 36 Blaney was already back in the second position.

When the No. 7 brought out the fourth caution of the night after a spinout in turn three on lap 80, Randolph brought the No. 29 Cooper Standard Ford, which was in the sixth position, to pit road for two rounds up on the track bar, four stickers and an air pressure adjustment in the left rear. Blaney had been saying his F-150 had tightened up and needed more drive off.

A competitive battle all night was unfolding in dramatic fashion between the No. 54 machine and Blaney’s Cooper Standard F-150, but ended badly for Bubba Wallace when the two got together and the No. 54 Truck spun, bringing out the fifth caution of the race on lap 86. Blaney was concerned of a cut left rear, but his spotter, Joey Meier, assured him everything was just fine.

Blaney’s last pit stop was on lap 108, both Blaney and Randolph congratulated the crew on an exceptional stop. The No. 29 machine came in second and after taking right-side tires, fuel and one round up on the track bar, the guys were able to maintain the second position even with the majority of the field stopping for fuel only.

On the final restart of the race, Blaney battled Kyle Busch for the lead, but unfortunately had a little contact with the wall in an attempt to pass the leader on the high side. The slight damage from the contact created a tight condition on his No. 29 Ford. Blaney held onto his F-150 for the remainder of the race, which ended on a long green flag run, and he was able to come home in 5th position. It was not an ideal way to end the night after having such a strong Cooper Standard Ford F-150, but the team fought hard and managed to grab a top five finish.

The No. 29 BKR team currently sits sixth in the NCWTS driver points standings, 47 points back from first and 25 back from second.