Ryan Blaney scores first Texas win in Xfinity Series

credit: Lisa Janine Cloud/Skirts and Scuffs

by Lisa Janine Cloud

The Xfinity Series My Bariatric Solutions 300 at Texas Motor Speedway ended much the same as it began - with Ryan Blaney and the No. 22 Fitzgerald Glider Kits Ford up front and fast. Blaney scored his first victory at the Great American Speedway Saturday afternoon.

With colder temps than ever recorded for a race at TMS, the first two stages of the race featured plenty of spins, cautions, chaos. By lap 105, though, the racers settled down and went to work. Blaney led 132 laps, taking point for the final time on Lap 154.

Christopher Bell finished second, putting him in the Dash 4 Cash next week at Bristol Motor Speedway. Bell led for 10 of the 200 laps but couldn’t quite catch the Penske No. 22 which has now won three races in a row with three different drivers.

Blaney admitted that teammates Joey Logano and Brad Keselowski put a bit of pressure on him to win. "You never want to be the guy who breaks a streak," said Blaney post-race.

Third place went to Daniel Hemric, who will also compete in the Dash 4 Cash along with fourth-place finisher Cole Custer and Ryan Preece who came in fifth.

Although he wound up in eighth place, Elliott Sadler still leads the point standings.

In case you’re wondering about Bayley Currey, who was featured in one of this week’s Five Questions, his Xfinity Series debut ended in 22nd place, ahead of team owner BJ McLeod who came home 29th.

Be sure to tune in for the Fitzgerald Glider Kits 300 at Bristol next week.