A solid start to the NCWTS season for Blaney at DIS

Daytona Beach, Florida - Ryan Blaney finished eight at Daytona International Speedway in the No. 29 Cooper Standard Ford F-Series Friday night. The Brad Keselowski Racing (BKR) driver had a solid start to the season in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series season opener.

Blaney qualified in the 11th position to begin the NextEra Energy Resources 250. The Cooper Standard Ford F-Series methodically moved through the field in the opening laps with the help of spotter Joey Meier. On lap 25, the yellow flag waved for the first time of the night.

Ryan Blaney

Photo by: Alexander Trienitz

The Cooper Standard crew had a lighting fast stop picking up two positions on pit road as Blaney restarted 12th on the lap 29 restart.

The yellow flag flew for the second time of the night on lap 54. Randolph called Blaney back to pit road for four more tires and fuel. Blaney restarted in the seventh position on lap 60.

Another quick caution waved on lap 62 for an engine failure, and Randolph brought Blaney down pit road for a fuel only stop for the No. 29 machine.

The yellow flag waved again on lap 77 for debris with Blaney holding the 13th position. With enough fuel to make it to the finish, Blaney stayed on the track as the green waved again on lap 81. The second to last caution waved on lap 91 with Blaney staying out again in favor of track position.

On the last lap, 100 yards beyond the start / finish line, a major accident broke out behind Blaney locking him into the eighth position at the time of the yellow.

"It was a pretty solid night for our No. 29 BKR Cooper Standard team," said Blaney. "We played it safe making sure we were going to get to the finish and never really got toward the front with track position.

I think we would have been able to do something with the lead had we been able to. It sure would have been fun to see how the last lap would have played out under green. Regardless, I'm ready to move forward and get to Martinsville!"

Brad Keselowski Racing