Ryan Blaney Showcases a Ton of Confidence at Iowa

Only a Penalty Can Keep Blaney from a Strong Finishing Result

If his first two appearances in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East are any indication, Ryan Blaney is set for a stellar career in the top-level developmental series.   It may just take some time before he shows it again. 

Blaney followed up his top-10 run at Richmond Int'l Raceway (VA) with a strong run after a third-place qualifying effort at Iowa Speedway on May 21st.  Blaney ran with the leaders and was changing back to the top five when he was called to serve a penalty late in the race, leaving Blaney 17th in the Pork "Be Inspired 175" at Iowa.  That result will serve as his final East Series run for a while, so Blaney went out with confidence.

"I know we wouldn't have had anything for Brett Moffitt or some of those guys, but we could have been in the top five," said Blaney.  "It was odd that we had to come in for the penalty because it happened several laps after we went back to green."

The penalty was given to the #10 car for being too fast

May 24, 2011

on pit road.  That's what was explained to them after a mid-race caution saw teams make three pit stops - one for gas, one for right-side tires and the last for left-side tires.

"We were still passing cars after we got back onto the track," added Blaney.  "It's a shame we didn't get to run more and that we are done in the East car for now.  My teammate Jimmy Weller is going to run a few races later this year in it."

Blaney will now switch back to Late Models where he will head to Motor Mile Speedway in Radford, Virginia on May 28th for the PASS South 150.  He is the current point leader heading into Saturday's event.   

Ryan Blaney proved that he is a force in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series in his two starts thus far in 2011.