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LONG POND, Pa. – From Kyle Larson to Brad Keselowski to Ryan Blaney’s best friend Darrell “Bubba” Wallace Jr., the good wishes filled Victory Lane – hugs, back slaps, and high fives for NASCAR’s newest first-time victor.
And for all the in-person celebration he was caught up in, Blaney’s eyes brightened and his smile widened when he was told during his victory press conference that Mario Andretti had also sent congratulations via Twitter for the 23-year-old’s maiden Monster Energy NASCAR Cup win Sunday at Pocono Raceway.
The great champion Andretti particularly appreciated a win with Blaney’s historic Wood Brothers Racing team and was – like so many other NASCAR fans – genuinely excited about Sunday’s race finish.
“Truly enjoyed watching some awesome driving.” Andretti said.
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Blaney’s first victory earned the great Wood Brothers team its 99th Cup trophy. This was the team’s first win since a then 20-year-old Trevor Bayne stunned the racing world by winning the 2011 Daytona 500 in his first try.
Despite all the revelry and good vibes, it certainly wasn’t an easy win for Blaney. And that’s perhaps what made the outcome even sweeter.
In the closing laps, he had to get around Kyle Busch for the race lead then hold off Kevin Harvick to take his first checkered flag. Neither of those Cup champions – Busch and Harvick – has won yet this season, so the motivation for all three drivers was immense.
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Yet, in some ways, as Blaney drove across the start/finish line and turned in the victory lap he undoubtedly started thinking about as a kid – it still felt a bit like a “throwback” victory for the six-decade-old Woods Brothers team, which has hoisted trophies with Hall of Famers David Pearson and Cale Yarborough. Even unintentionally, the win was reminiscent of an earlier time.
Blaney’s crew chief Jeremy Bullins confirmed that radio communication with his driver ceased about 40 laps into Sunday’s 160-lap race, joking that they used “a lot of Morse code.” Blaney could hear his team, but they could not hear him.
Adapting to the situation, they went back to communicating the way the Wood Brothers teams of decades ago would surely appreciate: Good ol’ hand signals – thumbs up and thumbs down.
“It was just like us going back to the old days with no radios,” Eddie Wood said with a smile. “We used to have a piece of gray tape on the dash that would have ‘roof loose, door push,’ and that’s what you went by. It just kind of took me back, and then right there at the end, the way (Blaney) was trying to get away from Harvick and dropping down to the inside like that. Neil Bonnett did that in 1980 here, and went on to win the race.
“I don’t know, it was just like I had flashbacks. It was really cool.”
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This weekend was certainly thumbs up.
“I didn’t really drive any differently than I would have before,” Blaney insisted, regarding his holding off a hard-charging Harvick in the closing laps. “You just try not to make mistakes. One little mistake and he was going to get by us pretty easy.
“You just try the best you can to focus and do what you do all day, which is hit your marks and try not to make mistakes.”
The result was definitely one of the sport’s most popular wins – for Blaney, who has been an all-class breath of fresh air and youthful optimism. And for the Wood Brothers, a legendary team and family who celebrated Sunday alongside a second-generation driver (his dad is former Cup driver Dave Blaney) who is respectful of where he’s come and eager about where he’s going.
By Monday morning the photos of Blaney reveling in his win back home in North Carolina (he rents from Dale Earnhardt Jr.) had appeared on Twitter. In one photo, Blaney’s good friends Wallace, Earnhardt, Danica Patrick and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. were among those raising a toast and flashing the No. 1 sign in honor of the first-time winner.
MORE: Blaney, friends celebrate into the night | Wallace assesses his debut
“It’s a huge year for the rookies, and then Bubba making his first start this weekend, that’s a big deal,” Blaney said. “It’s nice to be part of kind of this younger group of drivers, and I think we’re all kind of coming into our own.
“I think it’s pretty neat to just be part of the group. You always want to be part of the group, and luckily we’re able to finally get in Victory Lane because I’ve been pretty jealous of (Kyle) Larson and Austin (Dillon) and Ricky (Stenhouse Jr.) for them getting to Victory Lane, them being young guys, as well, and now we can finally add our name to that group.”
It’s truly a great sign for the sport. This win in particular celebrates the best of NASCAR tradition with the Wood Brothers and serves a reminder of the talented generation “next” that is already rapidly becoming generation “now.”