Ryan Blaney Laments Missed Opportunity to ‘Scare Kyle Larson’ in Kansas

Team Penske Racing star driver Ryan Blaney is disappointed with the missed opportunity at winning the Kansas Cup Series race.

Ryan Blaney Laments Missed Opportunity to ‘Scare Kyle Larson’ in Kansas

Kyle Larson and Ryan Blaney (Via IMAGO)

Hendrick Motorsports’ Kyle Larson executed a perfect weekend at Kansas Motor Speedway, with pole win, fastest lap, stage win and filially an impressive race win. Team Penske Racing’s Ryan Blaney had a shot at ruining the weekend for the NO:5 team, but unfortunately the Ford driver five laps too late to make the charge.

With 20 laps left in the race, Ryan Blaney was racing P5 and on the finish line, he was just a second down from Christopher Bell, who finished the race on P2. In his post-race interview, Blaney asserted that he was easily running the front runners down in the last laps of the race and but starting way back on the track, left a lot of ground to make.

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 the last handful of laps. I just kind of restarted too far back and had to make up a lot of ground.

Ryan Blaney said via Motorsports.com.

The Team Penske Racing champion was hoping to scare the No:5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevy driver, but he needed at least five more laps to do that. It has been the story of the life for Ryan Blaney for many years, as he and his team has often found themselves in the situation where they run out of laps to win races.

It took a lot for my car to come in. I think five more laps; I think I probably would have scared the #5 [Larson] a little bit at least.

Ryan Blaney added.

The late charge cost him the opportunity continue the Penske winning streak. Austin Cindric and Joey Logano secured wins in the last two weekends, securing their place in the playoff, while Blaney is left behind. He now has to work extra, to make the sure the upcoming races are not going to be the same near misses.

Ryan Blaney sees some positives from the weekend

Despite the disappointment, Blaney is proud about how his No:12 team has performed on the day and how they have been consistent in the last few weeks with fielding string cars. He is expecting them to continue doing exactly that in the upcoming races, so that he can finally secure his first win of the 2025 season.

Ryan Blaney
Ryan Blaney (Via IMAGO)

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 overall a really good weekend.

Ryan Blaney said.

The No:12 Ford team is a strong run at the moment, with four top 5 finishes in the last five races. The same level of consistency earned him the championship in 2023, as well as playoff entries in the years before. But at the moment with both of his teammates already being race winner, he has won his way into the last-16.

Also Read: “I Don’t Put on a Facade!” Joey Logano Breaks Silence on Intense Boos from fans in Texas