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Ryan Blaney was a dominant force throughout the NASCAR Cup race at Homestead-Miami Speedway, leading most race laps — 124 of a possible 267 — and winning the opening stage.
The Team Penske driver was cruising in third place during the final stage of the race, just behind Kyle Larson and Bubba Wallace as they battled for the race lead. But suddenly, a massive plume of white smoke billowed out the back of his No. 12 Ford Mustang, signalling a catastrophic engine failure.
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Blaney’s race was over just 60 laps shy of the finish, placing 36th of the original 37 starters.
Ryan Blaney, Team Penske Ford
Ryan Blaney, Team Penske FordMotorsport.com
Motorsport.com
“I didn’t have any warning,” said Blaney afterwards. “It just laid over when I got back to wide-open down the front, and that was all she wrote. It just stinks. We had a really fast Ford Mustang. We led a lot of laps. We lost a little bit of track position there with some stuff on pit road, but got back to third and it was a great race between me and Bubba and Larson. I’m sure Denny [Hamlin] was gonna get back into it.
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“It was gonna be a heck of a battle the last 60 laps or so, but it just didn’t really work out for us. We’ll continue to keep fighting. I appreciate the 12 guys for just giving me a hot rod. It was an incredibly, incredibly fast race car today. We’ll keep our heads up. It’s just one of those things where it’s not really going our way right now, but the good news is we’re bringing fast cars, and that’s all you can ask for. We’ll keep on moving.”
Heavy smoke seen after Ryan Blaney, Team Penske Ford engine blow
Heavy smoke seen after Ryan Blaney, Team Penske Ford engine blowChris Graythen – Getty Images
Chris Graythen – Getty Images
Strangely, this isn’t Blaney’s first engine blowup this year — a failure that has become increasingly rare in modern NASCAR. Two weeks ago at Phoenix, a similar engine issue ended his day. A crash at Las Vegas last weekend means that Blaney now has a stretch of three consecutive DNFs after just six races.
Photos from Homestead-Miami – Race
Kyle Larson, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Kyle Larson, Hendrick Motorsports ChevroletChris Graythen – Getty Images
Chris Graythen – Getty Images
Fans
FansJames Gilbert / Getty Images
James Gilbert / Getty Images
NASCAR President Steve Phelps, John Hunter Nemechek, LEGACY MOTOR CLUB Toyota
NASCAR President Steve Phelps, John Hunter Nemechek, LEGACY MOTOR CLUB ToyotaChris Graythen – Getty Images
Chris Graythen – Getty Images
Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing ChevroletJames Gilbert / Getty Images
James Gilbert / Getty Images
Kevin Harvick
Kevin HarvickJames Gilbert / Getty Images
James Gilbert / Getty Images
Alex Bowman, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Alex Bowman, Hendrick Motorsports ChevroletJames Gilbert / Getty Images
James Gilbert / Getty Images
Noah Gragson, Front Row Motorsports Ford
Noah Gragson, Front Row Motorsports FordJames Gilbert / Getty Images
James Gilbert / Getty Images
Joe Gibbs, Joe Gibbs Racing
Joe Gibbs, Joe Gibbs RacingJames Gilbert / Getty Images
James Gilbert / Getty Images
William Byron, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
William Byron, Hendrick Motorsports ChevroletJames Gilbert / Getty Images
James Gilbert / Getty Images
Alex Bowman, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Alex Bowman, Hendrick Motorsports ChevroletJames Gilbert / Getty Images
James Gilbert / Getty Images
Alex Bowman, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Alex Bowman, Hendrick Motorsports ChevroletChris Graythen – Getty Images
Chris Graythen – Getty Images
Josh Berry, Wood Brothers Racing Ford, Alex Bowman, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Josh Berry, Wood Brothers Racing Ford, Alex Bowman, Hendrick Motorsports ChevroletJames Gilbert / Getty Images
James Gilbert / Getty Images
Josh Berry, Wood Brothers Racing Ford, Alex Bowman, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Josh Berry, Wood Brothers Racing Ford, Alex Bowman, Hendrick Motorsports ChevroletJames Gilbert / Getty Images
James Gilbert / Getty Images
Josh Berry, Wood Brothers Racing Ford, Alex Bowman, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Josh Berry, Wood Brothers Racing Ford, Alex Bowman, Hendrick Motorsports ChevroletJames Gilbert / Getty Images
James Gilbert / Getty Images
Todd Gilliland, Front Row Motorsports Ford
Todd Gilliland, Front Row Motorsports FordJames Gilbert / Getty Images
James Gilbert / Getty Images
Chase Briscoe, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Chase Briscoe, Joe Gibbs Racing ToyotaJames Gilbert / Getty Images
James Gilbert / Getty Images
Cody Ware, Rick Ware Racing Ford
Cody Ware, Rick Ware Racing FordJames Gilbert / Getty Images
James Gilbert / Getty Images
William Byron, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
William Byron, Hendrick Motorsports ChevroletJames Gilbert / Getty Images
James Gilbert / Getty Images
Chase Briscoe, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Chase Briscoe, Joe Gibbs Racing ToyotaJames Gilbert / Getty Images
James Gilbert / Getty Images
Spire Motorsports pit crew member
Spire Motorsports pit crew memberJames Gilbert / Getty Images
James Gilbert / Getty Images
Ryan Blaney, Team Penske Ford
Ryan Blaney, Team Penske FordJames Gilbert / Getty Images
James Gilbert / Getty Images
Justin Haley, Spire Motorsports Chevrolet, Josh Berry, Wood Brothers Racing Ford, Joey Logano, Team Penske Ford
Justin Haley, Spire Motorsports Chevrolet, Josh Berry, Wood Brothers Racing Ford, Joey Logano, Team Penske FordChris Graythen – Getty Images
Chris Graythen – Getty Images
Austin Cindric, Team Penske Ford
Austin Cindric, Team Penske FordChris Graythen – Getty Images
Chris Graythen – Getty Images
Josh Berry, Wood Brothers Racing Ford, Joey Logano, Team Penske Ford
Josh Berry, Wood Brothers Racing Ford, Joey Logano, Team Penske FordChris Graythen – Getty Images
Chris Graythen – Getty Images
Joey Logano, Team Penske Ford, Bubba Wallace, 23XI Racing Toyota
Joey Logano, Team Penske Ford, Bubba Wallace, 23XI Racing ToyotaChris Graythen – Getty Images
Chris Graythen – Getty Images
Alex Bowman, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, Carson Hocevar, Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
Alex Bowman, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, Carson Hocevar, Spire Motorsports ChevroletChris Graythen – Getty Images
Chris Graythen – Getty Images
Kyle Larson, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Kyle Larson, Hendrick Motorsports ChevroletChris Graythen – Getty Images
Chris Graythen – Getty Images
Chase Briscoe, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Chase Briscoe, Joe Gibbs Racing ToyotaChris Graythen – Getty Images
Chris Graythen – Getty Images
NASCAR President Steve Phelps
NASCAR President Steve PhelpsJames Gilbert / Getty Images
James Gilbert / Getty Images
Riley Herbst, 23XI Racing Toyota
Riley Herbst, 23XI Racing ToyotaChris Graythen – Getty Images
Chris Graythen – Getty Images
Joey Logano, Team Penske Ford
Joey Logano, Team Penske FordChris Graythen – Getty Images
Chris Graythen – Getty Images
Chase Elliott, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Chase Elliott, Hendrick Motorsports ChevroletJames Gilbert / Getty Images
James Gilbert / Getty Images
Daniel Suarez, Trackhouse Chevrolet, Kyle Busch, Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
Daniel Suarez, Trackhouse Chevrolet, Kyle Busch, Richard Childress Racing ChevroletChris Graythen – Getty Images
Chris Graythen – Getty Images
Alex Bowman, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Alex Bowman, Hendrick Motorsports ChevroletJames Gilbert / Getty Images
James Gilbert / Getty Images
Justin Haley, Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
Justin Haley, Spire Motorsports ChevroletChris Graythen – Getty Images
Chris Graythen – Getty Images
Chase Briscoe, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, Josh Berry, Wood Brothers Racing Ford
Chase Briscoe, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, Josh Berry, Wood Brothers Racing FordChris Graythen – Getty Images
Chris Graythen – Getty Images
Jeff Gordon, Vice Chairman of Hendrick Motorsports
Jeff Gordon, Vice Chairman of Hendrick MotorsportsJames Gilbert / Getty Images
James Gilbert / Getty Images
Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing ToyotaChris Graythen – Getty Images
Chris Graythen – Getty Images
Alex Bowman, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Alex Bowman, Hendrick Motorsports ChevroletChris Graythen – Getty Images
Chris Graythen – Getty Images
Ryan Blaney, Team Penske Ford
Ryan Blaney, Team Penske FordMalcolm Hope – Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Malcolm Hope – Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Heavy smoke seen after Ryan Blaney, Team Penske Ford engine blow
Heavy smoke seen after Ryan Blaney, Team Penske Ford engine blowChris Graythen – Getty Images
Chris Graythen – Getty Images
Ryan Blaney, Team Penske Ford
Ryan Blaney, Team Penske FordMichael Bush – Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Michael Bush – Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Kyle Larson, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Kyle Larson, Hendrick Motorsports ChevroletChris Graythen – Getty Images
Chris Graythen – Getty Images
Kyle Larson, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Kyle Larson, Hendrick Motorsports ChevroletJames Gilbert / Getty Images
James Gilbert / Getty Images
Kyle Larson, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Kyle Larson, Hendrick Motorsports ChevroletChris Graythen – Getty Images
Chris Graythen – Getty Images
Kyle Larson, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Kyle Larson, Hendrick Motorsports ChevroletJames Gilbert / Getty Images
James Gilbert / Getty Images
Kyle Larson, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Kyle Larson, Hendrick Motorsports ChevroletJames Gilbert / Getty Images
James Gilbert / Getty Images
Kyle Larson, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Kyle Larson, Hendrick Motorsports ChevroletChris Graythen – Getty Images
Chris Graythen – Getty Images
Kyle Larson, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Kyle Larson, Hendrick Motorsports ChevroletChris Graythen – Getty Images
Chris Graythen – Getty Images
Kyle Larson, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Kyle Larson, Hendrick Motorsports ChevroletJames Gilbert / Getty Images
James Gilbert / Getty Images
Read Also:
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