Ryan Blaney reveals gameplan starting from back at Pocono after replacing starter

Ryan Blaney is facing a big challenge in Sunday’s Great American Getaway 400 at Pocono Raceway. Blaney will start from the rear of the field after his team replaced the starter in his No. 12 Ford.

Pocono is a tough place to pass, so Blaney and his team will have to get creative. That means their strategy will have to be on point, and Blaney has full confidence in what crew chief Jonathan Hassler can come up with.

“He’s one of the best at it [strategy],” Blaney told Prime Video. “He’s one of the best at many things, but this is one of the things he’s really good at is just being creative and trying to think outside the box when you are in positions like this where we have to start in the back. There’s some certain strategies we can do. Are you within the time window of pitting and not going a lap down? Can we get to that spot? He’s always thinking about those things. He started thinking about it last night when we decided to change the starter and we knew we were gonna be in the back.

“Just one of his gifts that he has, and I trust everything he does. I might give my opinion every now and then, but that’s just us talking and discussing our thoughts. But at the end of the day, that’s his call and I trust him 100 percent of the way. Like I said, we got our work cut out for us today, but I think our car’s fast enough to where hopefully, we can make something happen.”

Ryan Blaney looking to repeat at Pocono

Blaney came into the weekend as one of the favorites to take the checkered flag. He won this race in 2017 and did it again last season. Coming from the back will be challenging, but his car is fast and Blaney is obviously talented enough to do it.

Staying out of trouble will be key. Blaney has five DNFs through 16 NASCAR Cup Series races this season. He does have a win under his belt — at Nashville Superspeedway — meaning he’s locked into the 16-driver postseason field.