Blaney hot headed to Wilkesboro | Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

Ryan Blaney hopes to translate a hot streak into a milestone as he heads to North Wilkesboro Speedway for Sunday night’s historic return to Cup points racing after 30 years. The 2023 NASCAR Cup Series champion is coming off eight straight top-10 finishes, including a win last week at Atlanta, giving him momentum for the track’s first points event in three decades. The 0.625-mile track had been idle for nearly a quarter century, overgrown with bushes and weeds, before refurbishment to host the NASCAR All-Star Race from 2023 to 2025. Blaney will start on the pole after heavy rains washed out qualifying Saturday, using metrics to set the grid. Last weekend he and his No. 12 Ford Mustang led 171 of 263 laps, winning all stage points and moving to third, 65 points behind leader Denny Hamlin. He is also part of the $1 million In-Season Challenge semifinals, set to race Christopher Bell with the winner crowned next weekend at Indianapolis.