Ryan Blaney wins 2nd straight at New Hampshire
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LOUDON, N.H. -- Ryan Blaney and his team wound up making the most of a major mistake Sunday at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
The Team Penske star just needed a moment to vent on his team radio about a pit crew blunder before charging from 17th to first for his second consecutive NASCAR Cup Series win at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
"Whenever I say those things after something bad happens, it's my relief valve," Blaney said about scolding his team with an expletive. "I have to get it out in the open, or I'll be stewing over it a while. That's how I have to get over things. I wish I wasn't that way, but I'd rather it be that way than have it be in the back of my mind the rest of the race, not thinking of the main goal. It takes me five or 10 seconds to move on."
After shaking it off, Blaney recovered to lead the final 74 laps on the 1.058-mile oval, fending off runner-up Bubba Wallace by 0.586 seconds.
Josh Berry, who is trying to find a ride for the 2027 season, finished a season-best third, the fourth consecutive top 10 for the Wood Brothers Racing driver.
The top five was rounded out by Christopher Bell and Kyle Larson. Ryan Preece finished ninth and kept his Chase hopes alive by gaining 19 points on Shane van Gisbergen, who finished 20th and remains in the 16th and final spot for the 10-race title run.
It's the 20th career victory and third this season for Blaney, who led a race-high 115 of 301 laps. He had cruised to a big lead when a lug nut fell off the left-front tire of his No. 12 Ford during a pit stop under caution with 111 laps remaining.
The 2023 Cup Series champion picked his way through traffic and was back up to seventh when the yellow flag flew on the 226th lap for a three-car crash. Crew chief Jonathan Hassler made an aggressive strategy call for two right-side tires, and Blaney gained six spots in the pits to retake first place.
Hassler said the error "maybe was a little bit of a blessing in disguise" because Blaney emerged several spots ahead of the contenders who took four tires. Of the top 12 finishers, Blaney was the only driver who took two tires on his last stop.
His crew struggled often on stops earlier this season, losing 128 spots in the pits, but has been better with three top-five finishes in the past six races.
"It's really competitive on pit road, and if you're going to have any speed, you're going to have these sort of miscues," Hassler said. "With the speed we've had, our goal has certainly been to eliminate those, even if we give up a little bit of speed to do that. But it's still going to happen to each of the best teams. We're fortunate that we're fast enough and up front enough that people take notice when that's going to happen."
Kirkwood prevails
WASHINGTON -- On the streets of downtown Washington, an American led almost the whole way.
Kyle Kirkwood raced to his second victory of the IndyCar season Sunday, dominating the Freedom 250 in his No. 27 Honda. Kirkwood crossed the finish line in front of the U.S. Capitol 3.09 seconds ahead of Christian Lundgaard, after leading for 128 of a possible 147 laps.
"This likely is the most satisfying win that I've had, just the magnitude of it. This one and my first are pretty similar," said Kirkwood, who now has seven career IndyCar victories. "When you think about the magnitude, what this means, having this race here in D.C., being the Freedom 250, as an American, it might top the first win for me."
Norris wins F1 race
ZANDVOORT, Netherlands -- Lando Norris had a clear message for his Formula 1 rivals after a spectacular race-winning pass on standings leader Kimi Antonelli. Write off his title defense at your peril.
"This fight is still on," Norris said over team radio after winning the Dutch Grand Prix for back-to-back F1 victories and a trophy presented by the King of the Netherlands.
Norris asked his McLaren team to "just keep bringing upgrades (to the car), just keep bringing performance please" as he eyes an 83-point gap to Antonelli.
Elsewhere:
n Doug Kalitta won the NHRA Top Fuel Division Sunday At Brainerd International Raceway. Matt Hagan won the Funny Car Division, and Greg Anderson won the Pro Stock Division.