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2017 Season in Review: Ryan Blaney

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Tales of the Turtles 400 - Practice

JOLIET, IL - SEPTEMBER 15: Ryan Blaney, driver of the #21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center Ford, stands in the garage area during practice for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Tales of the Turtles 400 at Chicagoland Speedway on September 15, 2017 in Joliet, Illinois. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

Getty Images

Ryan Blaney

CREW CHIEF: Jeremy Bullins

TEAM: Wood Brothers Racing

POINTS: 9th

WINS: 1

LAPS LED: 301 (career-best, led only 11 laps in 2016)

TOP 5s: 4 (career-best)

TOP 10s: 14 (career-best)

POLES: 2 (Kansas I and Phoenix II)

WHAT WENT RIGHT: In his second full-time Cup season with Wood Brothers Racing, Blaney made the playoffs after scoring his first Cup win at Pocono. It was the 99th Cup win for the Wood Brothers. ... Blaney advanced to the third round of the playoffs before he was eliminated. ... Earned four stage wins, including a sweep in the spring Texas race ... His first Cup pole at Kansas in the spring was the first pole for the Wood Brothers since 2004.

WHAT WENT WRONG: After his win at Pocono in June, Blaney only earned two top 10s in the next seven races. He didn’t earn consecutive top 10s until the playoff races at Kansas and Martinsville ... Eliminated from playoffs after the Round of 8 following finishes of eighth (Martinsville), sixth (Texas) and 17th (Phoenix)... Totaled five DNFs

WHAT TO EXPECT IN 2018: After two years of full-time driving for the Wood Brothers, the son of Dave Blaney will move to Team Penske, where he will drive the No. 12 Ford as the team’s third car. Blaney will continue working with crew chief Jeremy Bullins ... The No. 21 Ford for the Wood Brothers will be driven by Paul Menard.