**Ryan Blaney Clinches Victory at Cracker Barrel 400, Secures Playoff Spot**

Ryan Blaney celebrated his first win of the 2025 season Sunday night at the Cracker Barrel 400 held at Nashville Superspeedway. The 2023 NASCAR Cup Series champion demonstrated his racing prowess by leading 139 of the 300 laps, ultimately securing a crucial playoff position.

The 31-year-old Blaney, representing Team Penske, had been on the brink of victory multiple times this season only to experience setbacks. However, on Sunday he drove his No. 12 Ford across the finish line with a 2.830-second lead over 22-year-old Carson Hocevar from Spire Motorsports, ending a 103-lap green flag run. Overjoyed, Blaney celebrated by climbing atop his car, raising his arms in triumph, and sharing the moment with fans by running into the grandstands and handing a young fan the checkered flag.

Blaney acknowledged the perseverance of his team, stating, "I never gave up hope that's for sure. We've had adversity, and this hasn't been a great year for us in terms of good fortune, but the 12 boys are awesome. They stick with it no matter how it goes." This win means that all three drivers from Team Penske are now in the 2025 playoffs.

Carson Hocevar had a commendable performance, matching his career-best finish from Atlanta in February. Despite mechanical issues at Charlotte last week, Hocevar showed resilience and determination, saying, "It just proves how strong this group is to go from the disappointment last week. Sticking to it and having a shot, just proud of this group. We were one spot short again, but hopefully, this is a step in the right direction."

Denny Hamlin of Joe Gibbs Racing, who secured the opening stage win and led 79 laps, finished third despite dealing with helmet and hydration issues. Blaney's Penske teammate Joey Logano finished fourth, while William Byron of Hendrick Motorsports, the current NASCAR Cup Series championship leader, rounded out the top five.

"There was no catching the 12 on the long runs," admitted Hamlin, whose fiancé is expecting their third child. Logano, who led laps but couldn't maintain his position, expressed pride in Team Penske's performance. "The 12 was just lights out, which gave them a huge lead, and we just weren't able to hold onto second. The 11 got by me," Logano said.

The race saw 18 lead changes among nine drivers, with Hamlin winning Stage 1 and Blaney winning Stage 2. The event also determined the lineup for the inaugural NASCAR In-Season Challenge, a new bracket-style tournament starting June 28 at Atlanta.

The upcoming races in Michigan, Mexico City, and Pocono will establish the seeding for this tournament, with former series champion Brad Keselowski securing the last spot by a narrow margin.

With 12 regular-season races left, Byron continues to lead the standings, being 48 points ahead of his Hendrick Motorsports teammate Kyle Larson. The series will return next Sunday for the Firekeepers Casino 400 at Michigan International Speedway. Defending winner Tyler Reddick looks to make his mark once again at the 2-mile speedway.

Post-race inspections confirmed Blaney's victory with no issues, cementing a triumphant night for the Penske team.