Ryan Blaney Overcomes Pit Road Woes to Contend for Wins

The Team Penske driver has lost 88 positions on pit road this season but continues to challenge for victories.

Apr. 12, 2026 at 10:49pm

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A fractured, geometric painting depicting the chaotic energy of a NASCAR pit stop, with the car and crew members broken down into abstract shapes and angles.A cubist interpretation of the high-stakes battle for position on pit road that has defined Ryan Blaney's 2026 NASCAR season.Bristol Today

Despite losing an astonishing 88 positions on pit road through the first eight races of the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season, Ryan Blaney has remained a contender, winning at Phoenix and finishing second at Bristol. Blaney's speed on the track has forced rival teams to target his pit crew as a weakness, but the driver has shown an ability to charge back through the field after losing track position.

Why it matters

Pit road execution is crucial in NASCAR, where track position is everything. Blaney's struggles in the pits have put him at a significant disadvantage each week, yet he has still managed to win and contend for victories, hinting at his potential if the pit road issues can be resolved.

The details

Blaney has lost 88 positions on pit road so far this season, by far the worst mark in the Cup Series. This was on full display at Bristol, where he lost multiple spots during pit cycles, including five in a single sequence. However, Blaney refused to let the pit road woes define his race, charging back through the field and making contact with Denny Hamlin to reclaim positions.

  • Through the first eight races of the 2026 season, Blaney has lost 88 positions on pit road.
  • Blaney won at Phoenix earlier this season despite his pit road struggles.
  • At Bristol, Blaney lost multiple positions on pit road, including five spots in a single sequence.

The players

Ryan Blaney

A Team Penske driver who has won a race and contended for victories in 2026 despite losing an astonishing 88 positions on pit road through the first eight races of the season.

Cliff Daniels

The crew chief for Kyle Larson, who acknowledged that teams are targeting Blaney's pit road weakness as a way to beat him.

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What they’re saying

“The thing we can do on pit road is we can beat him [Ryan Blaney] off pit road, so we're going to focus on that.”

— Cliff Daniels, Crew Chief, Kyle Larson

What’s next

If Blaney can resolve his pit road issues, he could emerge as a true championship contender, as his speed on the track has already proven he can win and compete for victories.

The takeaway

Blaney's ability to overcome significant pit road deficits and still contend for wins highlights his raw talent, but also underscores the importance of pit crew execution at the highest levels of NASCAR. If Blaney can improve his pit road performance, he may become nearly unstoppable.