Ryan Blaney Wins Rain-Postponed Geico 500

Credit: Lisa Janine Cloud for Skirts and Scuffs

Ryan Blaney earned his first NASCAR Cup Series win of the season at Talladega Superspeedway, edging out Ricky Stenhouse Jr. by .007 seconds in the GEICO 500.

Blaney charged ahead of Stenhouse and Erik Jones during overtime to post back-to-back victories at the 2.66-mile track. The Team Penske driver led 63 laps during the event that was postponed to Monday, June 22, after a rain-out on Sunday.

“I was just trying to block, just trying to block the best we could.” Blaney said, “The 20 got to my outside and I tried to go up there to slow him down. I hate that I hit him.”

“We came back in and topped off. We were just riding around til maybe 12 to go. I was waiting for Kevin to kinda go, but he had to save more than I did.”

Aric Almirola finished third - sliding backwards across the finish line - with Denny Hamlin fourth, and Jones fifth. Chris Buescher came in sixth, while Alex Bowman, John Hunter Nemechek, Kurt Busch, and Kevin Harvick rounded out the top 10.

Jimmie Johnson wound up 13th despite contact from Harvick having sent the seven-time champion spinning on Lap 187.

Credit: Debbie Ross for Skirts and Scuffs

Bubba Wallace came home in the 14th position after running out of fuel at the end. He got emotional talking to FOX’s Jamie Little after the race.

“This is probably the most bad-ass moment right here,” Wallace said as he stood in front of the catchfence where fans gathered to cheer him. “It’s been tough. It’s been hectic, carrying this weight…

“This sport is changing…I’m gonna keep on going. I’m proud to be part of this sport.”

Drivers and crew members rallied around the driver of the No. 43 Chevrolet during pre-race ceremonies by pushing his car to the front of the grid. They also stood alongside him during the national anthem.

Chase Elliott finished 38th out of 40 cars after contact from Brad Keselowski sent the Hendrick Motorsports driver spinning down the backstretch.

The NASCAR Cup Series heads to Pocono Raceway this weekend for a doubleheader. Coverage begins at 3:30 p.m./ET Saturday on FOX and 4 p.m./ET Sunday on Fox Sports 1.