Even though Ryan Blaney gave up to the lead to pit for fuel coming to two laps to go, Ryan Blaney managed to salvage his day at Watkins Glen with an eighth-place finish.
Blaney, who was making his second Cup start at the road course, had inherited the lead from Brad Keselowski a lap earlier when he also pitted for fuel.
“It stinks, we were close,” Blaney told NBCSN. “Just like (Keselowski), he was in the same boat that we were. He went hard to try and stretch it. I kind of saved a little bit. I got by (Martin Truex Jr.) and he was saving hard. I should have backed up to (Truex) and just stayed in front of him. I started saving a little bit too late. Not hard enough.”
Blaney finished 19th in his first start at the road course.
Blaney’s result was his first top 10 since finishing 10th at Kentucky. The Wood Brothers Racing driver has yet to put together consecutive top 10s.
Watch the video for the full interview.