Featured Latest News NASCAR NASCAR Cup Series

Ryan Blaney Dominates To Win Quaker State 400 In Overtime At EchoPark Speedway

by Hunter Thomas July 13, 2026 0 comments

HAMPTON, Ga. – Ryan Blaney dominated the Quaker State 400 Available at Walmart and survived a NASCAR Overtime finish to win at EchoPark Speedway.

The checkered flag flew around 2 a.m. Monday morning due to a more than three-hour rain delay, but the show was worth the wait. Blaney swept all stages and led a race high of 171 laps. He appeared to be unstoppable in the Team Penske No. 12 BODYARMOR FLASH IV Ford; however, his entire night came down to a three-lap dash to the finish. With help from Bubba Wallace and a last push from Christopher Bell, Blaney crossed the finish first.

“Bubba gave me really good shoves on the restart,” Blaney said. “We got hooked up really good. Then, yeah, gosh, Bubba and I got a huge run down the front straightaway. Bubba went three-wide bottom town the back, lined up for a really cool finish at the line.

“I really have to shout-out Christopher Bell for being right on my bumper all the way through three and four. He was a big reason why we won the race. Appreciate that, Christopher.”

The win is his second of the season and the second at EchoPark Speedway. Despite having such a fast race car, Blaney did overcome some adversity. While battling Wallace for the lead in Stage 2, he made significant contact with the outside wall, and from then on, Blaney had to race with a significant vibration.

“Yeah, I tried to make a move and just got loose and hit the fence,” Blaney said. “I think it’s just concrete in the wheels and paint and stuff like that.

“Luckily it still drove fairly decent. I’m happy we were able to make back up for it. I missed the block at the top down the backstretch. Just got separated.”

Wallace was the second driver to cross the finish line, but he was penalized for advancing his position by driving underneath the yellow line on the backstretch on the last lap. As a result, he finish 29^th, and Bell was credited with the runner-up finish. Bell had been solid all race long. He didn’t score stage points in Stage 1, but he finished seventh in Stage 2 and was a stout competitor at the end.

“It was a pretty good finish for us,” Bell said. “I just felt like I didn’t quite have the speed to be up there with Ryan (Blaney). I could be up there in second or third but it seemed like a couple of guys with faster cars could always get by me. Great finish with our Rheem Camry.”

Carson Hocevar rebounded from a flat tire to finish third. Ty Gibbs and Erik Jones rounded out the top-five. Shane van Gisbergen finished sixth, followed by Austin Dillon, Tyler Reddick who finished Stages 1 and 2 in second, Joey Logano and Chris Buescher.

There were 31 lead changes among 10 drivers.

There were also seven cautions for 49 laps. The largest crash of the night occurred on Lap 256, when drivers ran out of room racing down the backstretch. The chaos ignited when Kyle Larson and Denny Hamlin made contact. Chase Briscoe, Austin Hill, Alex Bowman, Riley Herbst and Ty Dillon were all involved as well.

Hamlin and Reddick have not clinched a spot in the Chase. Reddick cut in to Hamlin’s point lead, too. He now only trails by 24 points.

The NASCAR Cup Series will now visit North Wilkesboro Speedway for a points race on Sunday, July 19. The Window World 450 will broadcast live on TNT at 7 p.m. ET.

Photo Credit: Christian Koelle/TheFourthTurn.com