RELATED: Full race results | Reaction to Blaney win pours in
There have been three first-time winners at NASCAR's highest level through 14 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series races this season. It's the first time since 2011 there have been that many drivers to win their first Monster Energy Series race in one year, and Wood Brothers Racing is a thread that runs through both seasons.
Ryan Blaney's Pocono performance on Sunday sent him to Victory Lane --
in the historic No. 21, no less -- for the first time in his Monster Energy Series career. It follows career-firsts from Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Austin Dillon with 22 races still remaining this year.
As for that 2011 group ... take a look below for a quick look at both this season and that one.
FIRST-TIME WINNERS, 2017
• Ricky Stenhouse Jr., May 7, Talladega. Stenhouse Jr. qualified on the Coors Light Pole and passed Kyle Busch on the last lap for a breakthrough win. |
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Austin Dillon, May 28, Charlotte. It was a fuel-mileage decision, but no one would hold it against Austin Dillon when he steered the No. 3 back into Victory Lane in the prestigious Coca-Cola 600.
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Ryan Blaney, June 11, Pocono. This was as old-school as it gets. Blaney's headset wasn't working, so he couldn't communicate with his crew during the race. No matter. He passed former champ Kyle Busch, then held off former champ Kevin Harvick to put the No. 21 in Victory Lane.
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FIRST-TIME WINNERS, 2011
• Trevor Bayne, Feb. 20, Daytona. Widely considered the biggest upset in NASCAR history, Bayne launched his career when he won the biggest NASCAR race of them all one day after he turned 20 years old. It was the first win for Wood Brothers Racing in 10 years
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• Regan Smith, May 7, Darlington. Smith stayed out on a late caution, then paid the gamble off by holding off the field on the final restart at one of the trickiest -- and most iconic -- tracks on the circuit. It was the first-ever win for then-upstart Furniture Row Racing.
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• David Ragan, July 2, Daytona. Two 2011 races at Daytona, two big upsets -- this time it was David Ragan powering through for team owner Jack Roush.
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• Paul Menard, July 31, Indianapolis. There's no bigger track than Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the Menard family, which made Paul's conquest in 2011 extra sweet.
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• Marcos Ambrose, Aug. 15, Watkins Glen. Considered one of the best road racers in NASCAR, Ambrose outdueled Brad Keselowski and Kyle Busch in the waning laps for a thrilling victory.
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