As NASCAR’s engines roar into the Round of 8, a cloud of uncertainty hangs over Team Penske Ford’s star. With previous hitches, many doubt his capabilities, but some still see potential. The big question remains: Will his past execution issues get the better of him, or will this be his ultimate breakthrough year?

In a candid revelation on the NASCAR show, Steve Letarte probed deeper into this star’s journey. Todd Gordon, who knows the ins and outs of the driver’s career, gave his two cents. 

The Toughest Challenge for Team Penske Ford

Ryan Blaney, sitting precariously at 10 points below a transfer spot, carved a niche for himself by clinching an early spot in the third round of the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs. This, of course, followed his adrenaline-charged last-lap pass at Talladega Superspeedway on October 1st. A major feat for his team, it signaled that the Cup Series championship isn’t an unreachable dream. However, history shadows Penske’s driver’s success. His pattern of halting at the semifinals casts a long shadow on his recent accomplishments. Will history repeat itself, or can Ryan Blaney rewrite the narrative?

Letarte quizzed, “So how about Blaney? He’s at minus 10. Everybody’s very close. You know Blaney perhaps better than anyone. What’s your thoughts on Blaney?” 

To this, Todd Gordon responded, “I would write him out at this point. When you look at it and look at the years he’s had, just go back a few races. We go back to Texas, qualified, I don’t know, 25th, or something like that. Did some aggressive pit stuff and pit calls, which got him into the top 10—I think the top seven. They stopped there.” 

“Once they got themselves in that position, they drove forward until they got a penalty later. In both of these races, Homestead and Vegas, Ryan was in a position to contend for a win at both races, execution issues. If they can clean the execution issues up, they won the Coke 600 earlier this year, a mile and a half. So I think they’ve got a shot and they’ve got to look at it that way as well”, added further.

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However, the Round of 8 isn’t just about Ryan Blaney. Names like William Byron, the first to seal a spot in this round, add to the competition’s intensity. Las Vegas and Homestead-Miami Speedway are set to be the ultimate proving grounds, especially for Blaney. The Ford camp, historically, hasn’t had the best run on these tracks. But the driver of the No. 12 Ford, with his mix of good runs and not-so-great finishes, remains a mystery. But what are the Team Penske drivers’ thoughts on the upcoming race?

Blaney’s Make-or-Break Moment in NASCAR

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Zooming out, Ryan Blaney’s postseason tale is an intriguing one. Making his fifth appearance in the semifinal round, it seems like the 29-year-old has been perennially confined to this stage, always so close yet so far. With his peers, Joey Logano and Brad Keselowski, having tasted Championship 4 success, the pressure on Blaney is palpable.

The Team Penske driver recently stated, “We’ve been working super hard to find this intermediate speed. I feel like we’ve gotten better. We ran better at Kansas than we did prior. We had a good run going at Texas. Didn’t qualify well, but got through there and was able to maintain.

“I don’t know, it’s kind of hard to tell until you unload. You are always trying to work on stuff, but you have to have confidence that you are going to unload fast and with speed and be able to compete.”

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As he gears up, the question is: Will this be the year Ryan Blaney shatters his semifinal ceiling? Only time will tell. But one thing’s for sure: in a race where anything’s possible, counting out him might be premature. The racetrack is full of surprises, and this season, Blaney might just be the biggest one yet.