LOUDON, N.H. — Sitting before reporters in the media center to close out the second half of his post-race press conference, Ryan Blaney broke down his second consecutive victory at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Fresh off securing his 20th career NASCAR Cup Series win and his third of 2026, the Team Penske driver covered late-race brake adjustments, pit road recovery, driver etiquette, and local restaurant prices.
The second half of the press session focused early on Blaney’s 50-lap mid-race battle with former teammate Josh Berry. The two drivers traded lines and ran side-by-side without making contact on old tires. Blaney noted that Berry gave him plenty of room at Loudon last year during a late battle, and he intended to return the favor. He pointed out that watching cars slip around on worn rubber without running each other over is what short-track racing should look like.
Blaney brought some humor to the media room when asked about his dinner plans in New England. He mentioned visiting Makris Lobster House on Friday night for clam chowder and a fried seafood platter. He skipped the fresh lobster, however, after seeing the menu listing $100 for six ounces. Blaney joked that paying that price felt steep when he planned on winning a free live lobster on Sunday.
Reporters brought up Blaney’s radio frustration following a Stage 2 pit road setback, where a loose left-front lug nut dropped the No. 12 Ford from the lead down to 14th position. Spotter Timmy Fedewa told him over the headset that they would just have to do it the hard way. Blaney explained that venting over the radio acts as an instant mental valve. Saying what is on his mind immediately keeps him from dwelling on mistakes for the rest of the race. He noted it takes him 5 to 10 seconds to vent, clear his head, and refocus on driving.
Addressing NASCAR’s updated short-track package, Blaney praised the softer Goodyear radial tire and horsepower combination. The tire falloff created distinct comers and goers over long green-flag runs. He added that giving drivers another 75 horsepower next year would make the product even better.
Reflecting on back-to-back victories at Loudon, Blaney spoke about the emotional value of winning at New Hampshire. He recalled watching races here as a child and dreaming of lifting the traditional lobster trophy. He commended the Northeast fan base for enduring Sunday morning rain to fill the grandstands and backstretch campgrounds.
Restart intensity also generated significant discussion. With four distinct racing grooves available on the banking, drivers fanned out aggressively into Turn 1. The softer tire compound provided immense short-run grip, enabling bold three-wide passes during early lap runs.
When asked if the pit road error felt like a repeat of recent frustration at Richmond, Blaney distinguished between the two scenarios. Richmond involved a strategic risk that failed to yield results, whereas New Hampshire was an execution mistake with a dominant car. Crew chief Jonathan Hassler’s strategic two-tire call on Lap 225 allowed the team to recover without losing momentum.
Blaney also laughed off news that Berry had affectionately nicknamed him the Golden Child in his post-race quotes. Addressing reports of track surface cracking and potential repaving at New Hampshire, Blaney delivered a direct four-word response: “Don’t touch it.” He emphasized that the multi-groove surface produces great racing and belongs in the playoff rotation.
Sarah Talker of YourNews Media and Total Apex Sports asked Blaney to break down what was happening inside the cockpit during the final laps as Bubba Wallace closed the gap. Blaney explained that managing rear-drive traction on a two-tire call was his biggest challenge during the final 74-lap run. To save his rear tires, he leaned heavily on his front brake bias to help turn the car into corners.
While he saved rubber in clean air, pushing through heavy lapped traffic quickly ate away at his remaining rear grip. By the time he crossed the finish line 0.586 seconds ahead of Wallace, Blaney admitted he had almost no rear traction left, joking that he was glad the race was 301 laps instead of 300 miles.
Closing out the Q&A, Blaney recalled sitting in his car during the early rain delay. His primary goal was surviving the initial 50 laps on a damp track using wet-weather treads before making a smooth transition to slick radial tires. Crew chief Jonathan Hassler’s call for two tires on Lap 225 put Blaney back in clean air, allowing the team to erase their pit road mistake and secure the victory.
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