Ryan Blaney Isn’t Betting on Rivals Misfortune in the 2026 Championship Chase

The 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season so far has been a roller coaster ride for Ryan Blaney, who is currently 85 points behind leader Kyle Larson in the points table. Couple of unfortunate incidents in the chase dropped him from P3 to the current spot, that he can only get out if he can secure multiple race wins in the remaining four races of the year.

Going into this Sunday’s race Phoenix, he has momentum on his side as he won the pole and will start the race upfront with the best pit-slot. He is determined to win races and get back in the top-3, and isn’t counting Larson alongside the Joe Gibbs Racing trio having worse days.

No, I’m treating it as they’re not gonna have a mistake and we have to go win races to catch him. It could go either way. Everyone is like, ‘Oh, the law of averages, he’s gonna have a bad weekend,’ but they might not and if they don’t, then props, 100 percent. You did a heck of a job.

Ryan Blaney said ahead of Phoenix race.

The veteran knows it is fruitless to bet on the misfortune of his rivals, despite the fact that next week the Cup garage will be at Talladega, which will surly feature one of the most chaotic races of the chase. Ryan Blaney’s mindset is fixated on winning the at least two more Cup races and capitalize on their pace.

You really whooped up on everybody, so that’s my mindset is they are not going to have a bad week and we have to capitalize on it if he fifths it out the rest of the way, we have to go win a couple at least to try to get there. That’s where our mindset is at. We’re not waiting on him to make a mistake. We want to capitalize on running well and winning races.

Ryan Blaney added, as reported via motorsport.com.

Further talking about the point, the champion driver highlighted the whole No:12 Team Penske Racing Ford Mustang team are on attack mode right now and asserted that this has always been their mind-set. The 2023 champion seems to have found confidence that they can make the difference despite the points gap.

You play different when you’re protecting, but I don’t think our mindset changes, at least from this 12 team of you’re always kind of on attack mode, whether you’re 85 points behind like we are or 85 points ahead. You always just go try to do the best job that you can and I think that’s the best way – just try not to defer from what you usually try to do in your job from each weekend.

Ryan Blaney asserted.

Kevin Harvick predicts Ryan Blaney’s teammate’s win at Phoenix

Ex-champion Kevin Harvick on his podcast predict who might win this weekend’s race at Phoenix. He is backing three times champion Joey Logano to get back on the victory lane and strengthen the No:22 team’s championship hopes. His co-host Mamba Smith on the other hand is betting on Blaney to deliver on his promise.

KH: I’m going to take Joey Logano.

MS: Well, I’m going with Ryan Blaney. Give me the 12.

Kevin Harvick and Mamba Smith on Happy Hour podcast.

The third host of the shows, Kaitlyn Vincie predicted a Christopher Bell. The prediction shows the experts expect a Toyota vs Ford battle for win this week, while the Chevy team’s struggle. It would be interesting to how the race is going to playout and how it’s going to change the championship picture.

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