Talent is abundant in the Cup Series. Looking at the intensity of competition among drivers, it is hard for every driver to be rewarded equally. We have seen someone with the caliber and talent of Denny Hamlin struggling to win a championship over the years. That is an indicator of the myriad factors that are at play when running for a title in NASCAR’s top flight. However, unlike Hamlin, Team Penske star Ryan Blaney is still in the running after crossing the Round of 8 barrier for the first time in his career.

Coming into Phoenix, there have been a lot of discussions about his chances of going all the way and winning the championship. Veteran NASCAR insider Kyle Petty believes that, as of now, Blaney still resembles Kasey Kahne. Former Hendrick Motorsports driver Kahne is often considered one of the drivers who did not live up to their potential despite having immense reserves of talent.

Kyle Petty uses Joey Logano as a point of reference for Ryan Blaney’s career

Team Penske has built a strong core with Ryan Blaney and two-time champion Joey Logano at the center of it. While the #22 Mustang driver failed to deliver in the playoffs this season, Blaney has more than compensated for it. Logano fell in the first round of elimination, which was a shocker for his fans. Blaney has a strong chance at Phoenix, considering his track record and how Fords have been performing lately. However, as per Kyle Petty, his inconsistency could come into play here as well.

“I’m still comparing to Kasey Kahne. I’m not gonna back off of that just yet, just because since I compared him, he’s won two races. I look at it like this: Since, I guess, 2018, Ryan has won 8 races for Team Penske. I would have thought he would have won more than that,” claimed Petty.

Kahne has 18 wins in a career spanning 15 years in the Cup Series. The numbers are slightly misleading for a man of his talents, as he could have won way more than he did. Continuing his conversation with Marty Snider and Dale Jarrett on NASCAR America Motor Mouths, Petty then went on to make a comparison between Blaney and Logano’s impact in a similar time frame.

“In that same period of time, Joey Logano has only won 14 races. So when you compare Joey Logano, his teammate, to him, you say, okay, that’s pretty comparable. But Joey Logano has won two championships in that same amount of time and that’s why I compare him to Kasey Kahne. He doesn’t show up every week like Logano does,” Petty added.

In the case of Logano, the defending champion has been more consistent than his #12 Mustang driving teammate. His wins have been impactful and have come more regularly as well. Blaney could take a note from him or two to replicate his success in the championship race on Sunday.

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Kyle Petty believes Ryan Blaney still has a lot to work on over the next few years

Ryan Blaney has recorded the best finishing average in Phoenix in a Next Gen car among the current crop of drivers. With an average finish of 2.7, he triumphs over his nearest contender for the championship, William Byron, by almost six positions. The statistic might be an excellent attribute to back on, but there will also be many more things affecting the race.

Blaney’s biggest problem has been the pattern of results. The contrast between two consecutive results has been massive for the #12 driver. Considering that he won at Martinsville, he must stay composed and maintain a perfect temperament to win in Phoenix. Petty highlighted the same and said that this aspect of his career definitely needs a revamp certainly.

“Sometimes he’s just absent from the race. We don’t talk about him that much, or sometimes he leads a lot of it and then disappears at the end. So, for me, he’s still in that category.”

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“He has got to put together a body of work over the next two or three years and a body of consistent work. Winning races is one thing, and I never said he couldn’t win races. Kasey Kahne won races. It’s just that consistency that I’ve been looking for from Ryan Blaney.” stated the former Petty Enterprises driver.

Blaney can often show glimpses of his racing acumen as he did at Martinsville. He even managed to save his car from crashing after a wobble in the 271st lap, which was crucial in sending him to Phoenix. The only thing that needs to be added to his arsenal is consistency.