March 2, 2026

Ryan Blaney was one of the top contenders for the win throughout the DuraMAX Grand Prix at Circuit of the Americas. Blaney began the race from the fourth position, but progressed to the front as the first stage progressed. The No. 12 Team Penske Ford driver then obtained the lead from Chase Briscoe on lap 9 and led the rest of the first stage until his first pit stop on lap 18. Blaney ended the first stage in 14th and did not earn any stage points, but he shuffled back to the lead at the beginning of the second stage. However, Blaney was quickly passed by Tyler Reddick for the lead, and then spent most of the stage trailing in second behind Reddick. Blaney went to pit again two laps before the end of the second stage, but was far enough ahead of the rest of the field to lose only a few positions. The No. 12 Ford driver ended the second stage in seventh and gained four stage points. In the final stage, Blaney cycled back to second and was chasing Reddick through most of the stage until a restart after a lap 75 caution for Ross Chastain losing a wheel. Blaney was then passed by Shane Van Gisbergen and settled into third until the closing laps, when Blaney lost grip in his tires and kept losing positions. He eventually finished the race in eighth place, earning his best finish at COTA since 2022.--Sean Engel - RotoBaller
Source: NASCAR.com