Blaney holds off Hamlin to score second Pocono victory

Blaney’s victory at Pocono is his first since 2017 when he earned his first career Cup Series win at the “Tricky Triangle.”

Blaney took the lead on the race’s final restart, holding back a charging Alex Bowman to retain the lead. With Denny Hamlin closing on the back bumper of Bowman, the battle between the No. 48 and No. 11 was all Blaney needed to claim his second win of 2024. 

Sunday’s race at Pocono featured several big incidents, including ‘The Big One’ in which Kyle Busch came up the track and collected several other cars, including Ryan Preece, Harrison Burton and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Contact from Corey LaJoie sent Busch around into oncoming traffic. 

Ross Chastain also was a victim of the tri-cornered racetrack making contact with the wall that ultimately ended his day. Chastain, who finished 36th, now falls to 16th in the playoff standings, just 27 points above Bubba Wallace for the final playoff spot. 

Hamlin and Bowman finished second and third, respectively, with William Byron and Joey Logano finishing fourth and fifth. Talladega winner Tyler Reddick came home sixth, with Brad Keselowski, Martin Truex Jr, Chase Elliott and Wallace rounding out the top 10. 

Other notable finishers from Sunday’s race include Kyle Larson in 13th, Ty Gibbs in 27th, Busch in 32nd and Todd Gilliland in 34th. 

Next Sunday, the Cup Series will return to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway oval for the first time since 2020. The Brickyard 400 will go green shortly after 2:30 p.m. ET, with coverage on NBC.