LOUDON, N.H. — Entering the media center at New Hampshire Motor Speedway following a grueling 301 laps at “The Magic Mile,” Team Penske’s Ryan Blaney was all smiles. Fresh off defending his crown in the Dollar Tree 301 to secure his 20th career NASCAR Cup Series victory, Blaney fielded questions ranging from taxidermy home decor to navigating long green-flag runs in dynamic weather conditions. The victory marked his third win of the 2026 season and reinforced the No. 12 team’s reputation for short-track dominance.
The post-race press conference kicked off with a lighthearted exchange from Sarah Talker of Total Apex Sports and YourNews Media regarding New Hampshire’s legendary victory prize: Loudon the Lobster. Having received his taxidermied 2025 trophy earlier in the morning, Blaney laid out his interior design vision for his newest crustacean acquisition. He noted that the first trophy already found a place, and the new addition would complete a unique display in his home.
“I got my first one this morning on the plaque after they did their deal to it,” Blaney laughed. “In the bar in my house, I have a turkey I got three, four years ago hanging in there, so I was planning on putting my first one next to him, a little surf and turf action. Then, next year when I get the second lobster, I want to hang it next to him so he has a buddy.”
Blaney admitted that his home decor choice might draw a little spousal pushback, though winning drivers usually enjoy a generous pass. “My wife might not like it, but it’s happening,” Blaney joked, adding with a grin that while trophy allowances go a long way, he might have to be careful with his young son. “I might scare him, I don’t know.”
Shifting focus back to the action on the track, Jordan Jenkins of Seriously Fast Motorsports brought up the changing track conditions. After starting on wet-weather tires for a damp 40-lap opening stint, Blaney detailed the precise moment he realized the No. 12 Menards/Dutch Boy Ford Mustang Dark Horse had winning potential once the field transitioned to radial slicks.
“Just those first 40, 50 laps, whatever it was, just try to survive them, not be a hero or do anything special, just try to get there,” Blaney explained. “Really, the first time we were on slicks I felt like my car was decent, but the track was still drying. Once I got to second in Stage 2 behind Josh [Berry], I was like, ‘My car is pretty good, I think I can contend for the win.’ Once the track went full dry, I knew we were in the ball game.”
Blaney went on to dominate Stage 2 and ultimately led a race-high 115 laps on the afternoon. However, the path to Victory Lane was far from smooth. A mid-race pit road issue dropped him to 14th place, forcing Blaney to slice back through heavy traffic on a notoriously difficult track for passing.
Later in the press conference, Zach Sternall of NASCAR.com pressed Blaney on the nerve-wracking final stint. Crew chief Jonathan Hassler called for a bold two-tire pit stop during a late caution on Lap 225, placing Blaney on point for the final 74 laps. That call left him vulnerable to drivers on four fresh tires, most notably his close friend Bubba Wallace, who began closing the gap in the final laps.
Blaney revealed the delicate balance between pushing the pace and preserving his right-side rubber while carving through dense, multi-car traffic. “I was aware of it for sure. Spotter Timmy [Fedewa] was giving me gaps,” Blaney noted. “I tried to build a gap early in the run knowing we were going to go a long way on tires and I had two. When I saw Bubba got to second on four, I knew he was quick.”
Managing lapped traffic in heavy packs ate into his advantage as the final laps ticked away. Even so, Blaney maintained his composure through Turn 3 and Turn 4, executing precise corner entries to protect his chassis balance. “With 20 to go, kind of as I was working through traffic, I was starting to struggle,” Blaney admitted. “Turn 2 was kind of fading. I couldn’t really get off the corner as good as I wanted, and my entry started to go away. So I was just trying to maintain and not make a mistake.”
Wallace closed the margin to 0.412 seconds with five laps remaining, yet a late entry lock-up by the No. 23 car sealed the outcome. Blaney crossed the finish line 0.586 seconds ahead of Wallace to lock up back-to-back New Hampshire triumphs. Ultimately, Blaney’s performance at Loudon provided a complete display of championship-caliber poise under pressure.
By combining steady wet-weather survival with raw speed in the dry and flawless traffic management down the stretch, the No. 12 team proved they are peaking at the exact right moment. As the garage area turns its focus toward the final race of the regular season at Daytona and the upcoming Chase, Blaney has established himself as a primary championship favorite capable of winning under any conditions on the track.
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