Blaney Takes Racing Lead Change Lead Before Blowing Up; Hamlin Joins RLC Ranks

Been behind the wall with computer issues the last few weeks. Running on seven cylinders, so trying it with a few words this race. 

Race Notes

• Ryan Blaney scores 2 RLCs before engine blows to take RLC Lead from Austin Cindric
• Penske (+ Wood Brothers) hold the Top Four positions in RLC Standings
• Denny Hamlin scores first RLC to get on the Leaderboard (tied for 15th)
• Tyler Reddick, John Hunter Nemechek and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. are Top 20 in points but have yet to score a RLC.
• Lead Changes under Caution and Leaders pitting under Green, made up 67% of the Lead Changes. 9 Green Flag Lead changes was one car passing another (3 Restarts / 6 Racing Lead Changes).
• In many areas, this race didn’t post as good stats as last year’s Playoff race.  Did the schedule change play a factor or are their other factors involved?

Race Breakdown

Winner-Kyle Larson– 1st Win of 2025

14 GEN 7 Wins-1st

30th Career Wins, 30th Overall, 5th Active driver

27 Lead Changes among 9 Drivers- Ryan Blaney led 124 Laps- 2nd Most Lead Changes in GEN 7 era. Most-33 (2024).

10 Caution Flag Lead Changes-17 Green Flag Lead Changes

Of 17 Green Flag Lead Changes- 8 Leader Pit Green LC- 3 Starts/Restarts LC

6 Racing Lead Changes by 5 Drivers

2 Ryan Blaney 1 Denny Hamlin, Bubba Wallace, Alex Bowman, Kyle Larson

Winning Pass – Lap 261 Kyle Larson passes Alex Bowman (RLC)

Margin of Victory 1.205 sec. 2nd Closet in GEN 7 era. Closest – 0.241 seconds (2024).

3361 Green Flag Passes (position change at scoring loops) 2nd Most in GEN 7 era. Most-6056 (2024)

267 Laps – 27 CF Laps- 240 GF Laps

240 GF Laps – 15 Start/Restart Laps- 225 Racing Laps

4 Cautions- 5 Start/Restarts- 5 GF Runs

37 Cars Start- 35 Cars Running- 25 Cars on Lead Lap

Racing Lead Change Scoreboard (Thru Homestead)

RLCs – Drivers

9-Ryan Blaney

8-Austin Cindric

7-Joey Logano, Josh Berry

6-Alex Bowman, Bubba Wallace

5-William Byron, Kyle Larson

4-Todd Gilliland, Ross Chastain

3-Shane van Gisbergen, Kyle Busch

2-Michael McDowell, Noah Gragson

1-Ryan Preece, Christopher Bell, Ty Dillon, Chase Elliott, Corey LaJoie, Daniel Suarez, Denny Hamlin

Thanks for bearing with me.  Hopefully this works.  Let’s see what Martinsville looks like with a softer compound tire.  Till then…

Thunder On… and Stay Safe!

David Nance

Photo Credit (cover):  Chris Graythen/Getty Images