Page 21 - ARUBA TODAY

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SPORTS Monday 12 June 2017

Blaney wins 1st career NASCAR Cup race at Pocono Raceway

DAN GELSTON Blaney interviewed Xfin-
AP Sports Writer ity winner Brad Keselowski
LONG POND, Pa. (AP) — in victory lane on Satur-
Ryan Blaney was stationed day as part of an all-driver
in victory lane with a head- broadcast by Fox. Kesel-
set on as a guest pit report- owski finished fifth on Sun-
er just the day before at Po- day and returned the favor
cono Raceway. But to get by crashing the broadcast
there again, on his own in and interviewed Blaney.
the No. 21 Ford, he’d have “What was going through
to zip past a pair of hard- your mind? You’re in vic-
ened NASCAR champions tory lane, man!” Keselowski
with just 10 laps left. said.
Kevin Harvick and Kyle “I just didn’t want to make
Busch may not be ready a mistake,” Blaney told Ke-
yet to officially pass the selowski. “That would have
torch to the next genera- been the worst thing we
tion of drivers. So it’s up to could do.”
young 20-somethings like He was near flawless over
Blaney to yank that torch — those final 10 laps.
that checkered flag — and “He outran two guys today
knock ‘em off their perch. that are champions,” Eddie
Driving for owners with Wood said.
roots steeped in NASCAR It was a bit of a throwback Ryan Blaney celebrates in Victory Lane after winning the NASCAR Cup Series Pocono 400 auto
history, Blaney blazed his for the Woods. Blaney’s ra- race, Sunday, June 11, 2017, in Long Pond, Pa. Associated Press
way down the stretch past dio was busted and he had
Busch, held off a hard- no communication with his tion is coming on strong. And, in victory lane. diffused the wreck with hu-
charging Harvick, and won team after about the first 40 “These young guys have to Other items of note at Po- mor.
his first career NASCAR Cup laps. get into victory lane to get cono: “I just want to let my wife
race Sunday at the race- “It figures the one race we these fans that don’t like JOHNSON WRECK and kids and my mom
way. don’t have radio commu- me and Kyle,” he said. “The Seven-time NASCAR cham- know that I’m OK and I
That’s career win No. 99 for nication, we end up win- younger crowd has to win, pion Jimmie Johnson sat on will go change my under-
the Wood Brothers. ning it,” Blaney said. “May- and today Ryan was able the track to catch his breath wear and get ready to go
No. 1 for Blaney, well, that be we should turn the radio to do that, so not only is it following a fiery wreck late home,” he said.
felt pretty good. off more often.” good for him, but it’s good in the race. Johnson’s No. MCMURRAY SCARE
Blaney, a “Star Wars” nut, The Wood Brothers have for the whole sport.” 48 Chevrolet was in flames Jamie McMurray ap-
was tongue tied when he won at least one race in Blaney had a brief chat in and the cockpit billowed peared to get caught up in
met actress Daisy Ridley in each of the last six de- victory lane with one of his with smoke when his car the aftermath of Johnson’s
March. An hour or so after cades, but none since Trev- best friends and fellow driv- struck the wall. Johnson wreck and his No. 1 Chevy
confetti fluttered on him in or Bayne won the Daytona er, Darrell Wallace Jr. Wal- was running seventh when also smacked the wall and
victory lane, he offered an 500 in 2011. lace finished a lap down he appeared to have an is- burst into flames. McMur-
open invitation to Ridley to Blaney is the 18th driver to in 26th in the first start by sue with his brakes that shot ray, who also had brake is-
join the post-race party. win a Cup race with the a black driver in the Cup the car up the track and sues, quickly climbed out of
The bash might last as long Wood Brothers. series since 2006. He felt ill into the wall. the car. “I just started spin-
as a “Star Wars” marathon. He is also part of a bumper after the race and needed Last week at Dover, John- ning and didn’t have any
“Maybe she watched the crop of blossoming young to go to the medical cen- son moved into a tie for brakes,” he said. “It was
race today,” Blaney said. talent that his hit NASCAR ter. Wallace said he was sixth on NASCAR’s list with really weird that we kind of
“She better get on a plane over the last couple of embarrassed, but fine. 83 career wins. both had the same thing
right now. It’ll actually be years. Two of those drivers “It was really cool, a really “I can only speculate that I happen at the same point
going on all night, so she’s were in the top 10: rookie fun day,” Wallace said. got the brakes too hot and on the racetrack, but fortu-
got plenty of time to get Erik Jones was third and The Wood Brothers share when I went to the brakes nately, we are both OK.”
here.” Chase Elliott was eighth. a technical alliance with they just traveled straight to WINLESS JUNIOR
The 23-year-old Blaney, son Blaney joined Ricky Sten- team owner Roger Penske the floor,” Johnson said. “I Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s winless
of NASCAR driver Dave house Jr. and Austin Dillon and “The Captain” would didn’t even have a pedal season stretched into Po-
Blaney, grandson of dirt as first-time Cup winners this like to add Blaney to his ros- to push on. At that point, cono when he was forced
track star Lou Blaney, won season. ter, possibly next year. I threw it in third gear and out of the race because
for the first time in 68 career “We can finally add our Next year was a worry for I was just trying to slow it of mechanical issues. Earn-
starts and partied again name to that group,” a another day. down.” hardt, who swept Pocono
in victory lane. He was a beaming Blaney said. “I like where I’m at,” Blaney Johnson, who had a form in 2015, was already forced
guest reporter for Fox dur- Harvick, the 2014 champi- said. of skin cancer cut out of to start at the rear of the
ing the Xfinity race. on, knows the new genera- With the Wood Brothers. his right shoulder this week, field. q