Driver Drops to 16th in Points
An ill-timed caution period early and a brush with the wall late, caused Ryan Blaney and the Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford Fusion to finish 17th in the FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan International Speedway this afternoon.
BROOKLYN, Mich., June 12, 2016 – An ill-timed caution period early and a brush with the wall late, caused Ryan Blaney and the Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford Fusion to finish 17th in the FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan International Speedway this afternoon.
Blaney had the Wood Brothers No. 21 in the top 10 for most of the first half of the race before pitting on green right before a caution period around lap 100 of 200, which put him a lap down when other cars were able to pit under yellow.
“Yeah, that stunk,” Blaney said after the race. “It didn’t help us out. We had to start all the way to the back. Those things happen. We had a really good car on longer runs. We got really good and we were driving up there really fast. Unfortunately we got put in that spot.”
Still, he battled and worked his way back into the top 10 before brushing the wall in turn two on lap 162 putting him as far back as 29th.
“The No. 17 just came across my nose super fast and it completely took all the traction off my car and I slid all the way to the fence,” Blaney explained. “It was the damnedest thing. That’s never happened to me before.”
Repairs made to the right side of his Fusion, Blaney proceeded to work his way through the pack to the 17th and his 11th top-20 finish of the 2016 NASCAR season.
With that result, Blaney drops a position to 16th in the drivers’ points standings going into an off week before the NASCAR Sprint Cup caravan heads west for the first of two road course races on the 2016 schedule, the Toyota-Save Mart 350, June 26.
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About Motorcraft
Motorcraft® offers a complete line of replacement parts that are recommended and approved by Ford Motor Company. From routine maintenance to under-hood repairs, Motorcraft parts offer exceptional value with the highest quality and right fit at competitive prices. Motorcraft parts are available nationwide at Ford and Lincoln dealers, independent distributors and automotive parts retailers are backed by Ford Motor Company’s two-year, unlimited-miles Service Parts Limited Warranty. Ask for Motorcraft by name when you visit your local auto parts store or your favorite service facility. For more information, visit www.motorcraft.com.
About Quick Lane Tire & Auto Centers
Ford’s Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center offers routine vehicle maintenance such as oil and filter changes, light repair services including brake repair, and tire replacements on all vehicle makes and models. With nearly 800 locations and growing, customers can visit www.quicklane.com to find a center that is closest to them, print savings coupons and review maintenance tips to keep their vehicles running at peak efficiency. This site includes information on how to spot tire wear, how to jump-start a battery and even a series of tips to improve a vehicle’s fuel economy.
Wood Brothers Racing
Wood Brothers Racing was formed in 1950 in Stuart, Va., by Hall of Famer Glen Wood. Wood Brothers Racing is the oldest active team and one of the winningest teams in NASCAR history. Since its founding, the team won 98 races (including at least one race in every decade for the last seven decades) and 117 poles in NASCA’s top-tier series. Fielding only Ford products for its entire history, the Wood Brothers own the longest association of any motorsports team with a single manufacturer. Glen’s brother, Leonard, is known for inventing the modern pit stop. The team currently runs the Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford Fusion driven by Ryan Blaney in the famous number 21 racecar.
