Ryan Blaney belꩲieves he could have “scared” eventual winner Kyle Larso💝n if Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race in Kansas was just five laps longer.

The Penske driver believes he had the late-race pace to challenge Larson for the top spot, having risen from ꦑsixth to third place after a late caution with 50 laps to run.

The 2023 Cup Series champion nearly nicked second place off the #20🧸 Joe Gibbs Racing driver Christopher Bell on the final tour and finished less than♑ a second behind the winning #5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet of Larson.

“I think we were third in both stages and🎉 finished third, and honestly we were kind of running those guys down quick there at the end of the last handful of laps,” said Blaney, driver of the #12 Penske Forꦅd Mustang.

“I just kind of restarted too far back and had to make up a lot of ground.
 
“It took a lot for my car to come in. I think five more laps, I think I probably would have scared the 5 a little bit at least.
 
“But no, really proud of the 12 🎀boys today. Really good last couple weeks bringing fast race cars. Hopefully, we can continue to do that, keep learning and move forward, but o📖verall a really good weekend.”

Sunday’s result snapped a two-race winning streak for Penske after Austin Cindric claimed top honours at Talladega and Joey Logano triumphed in Texas a week ag🏅o.

Blaney remains winless in 2025 after 12 out of 36 races but is Penske’s top-placed driver in the championship in fifth place, 107 points behind 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:new standings leader Larson.

Hendrick driver Larson admitted that he was n😼ursing his tyres at theꦉ end of the race, even though his victory never appeared to be in doubt.

"I was trying really hard to pace myself because I believe that was our longest run of the day. I’d been struggling a little bit⛎ at the end of the runs. Chase [Briscoe] was really good, so I just felt like I needed to try to be better on my end.

"I don’t know if it was paying off or not at the end. I was still struggling. I don’t know if the right front was starting to wear a lot or what, but I was starting to lose a lot of grip and then I was vibrating really bad, so I was afraid a right rear or something would let g▨o.

"But yeah, great car, great execution today, too, for our team. Thanks to Hendrickcars.com, Valvoline, Prime, all you rac༒e fans, too, for coming out. This is awesome w🐽eather to get to watch a cool race.

"Glad to not win by an inch right here this time and a little🌠 bit safer gap. But thanks again to the team. Congrats to all Hendrick Motorsports, the engine shop, everybody there."