Ryan Blaney delivered a striking performance in the rain-affected NASCAR Cup Series Dover race on Sunday, advancing from a 31st starting position to finish eighth. Facing weather delays and a challenging track, Blaney and his No. 12 Menards/Libman Ford Mustang team showcased resilience and strategic pit calls, overcoming early setbacks to secure their ninth top-10 finish of the 2025 season.
Storms forced the cancellation of Saturday’s qualifying session, placing Blaney deep in the field. Nonetheless, he gained ground early, breaking into the top 20 within the first 60 laps and ending Stage 1 in 16th place. His momentum continued into the second stage, where astute stops during green flag cycles and a surge in speed propelled him into ninth place by the stage’s end.
As accumulating rain created uncertain conditions, Blaney’s crew chief Jonathan Hassler made the crucial call for their final pit stop on Lap 327 alongside the leaders. Soon after, a caution for rain came out but left Blaney among a minority of cars on the lead lap due to taking the wave around. Following a prolonged red flag lasting nearly an hour, Blaney was quick to pit again under yellow, taking only right-side tires to gain a performance edge for the closing laps.
Despite two incidents on the final restarts, Blaney skillfully maneuvered through traffic to finish eighth, a strong result given his starting position and the unpredictable race environment.
“It was a fun day. I thought on long runs we were really good. I would have personally liked to have seen it go to the end before the rain caution came out because we had a really good long run car and I thought I might have been able to get up to fifth. We came in and got two tires, and I didn’t pick a good lane on the restart and gave a lot of track position away, but, overall, it was a good day from where we started.”
—Ryan Blaney, Driver
Austin Cindric Shows Determination Amidst Wet Conditions to Claim 16th
Austin Cindric and the No. 2 Autotrader Ford Mustang team battled through a difficult starting position in Sunday’s rain-impacted Autotrader 400 at Dover Motor Speedway. Beginning 26th due to Saturday’s canceled qualifying, Cindric focused on steady gains, finishing Stage 1 in 19th after regrouping under competition caution.
Throughout Stage 2, Cindric found rhythm, steadily climbing to a 16th-place stage finish. Although the car’s balance failed to improve according to team communications, he adapted to the changing track and weather, pitting for fresh tires just before a caution on Lap 338 for rain interruptions. The race’s subsequent red flag tested driver focus and team strategy as the field waited nearly an hour for the track to dry.
After the restart, Cindric avoided the chaos in the wet conditions and picked up several positions on the final restarts, enabling him to finish inside the top 20 in 16th place.
“With where we had to start I’m definitely proud of the effort from everybody here on this No. 2 Autotrader Ford Mustang. We kind of just clawed our way up and we had one restart where the field got split up under green flag cycles and I got parked and pretty much lost all of the progress I had made throughout the entirety of the day. We clawed back a few there on those late restarts, but, overall, I’m happy to finish one of these a little better than we have the last few weeks, but we definitely want more.”
—Austin Cindric, Driver
Joey Logano Marks 600th NASCAR Cup Start Amid Mixed Results
Joey Logano celebrated a significant career milestone Sunday by making his 600th NASCAR Cup Series start at Dover Motor Speedway, becoming the youngest driver to reach this number of races at 35 years old. The No. 22 Shell-Pennzoil Ford Mustang Dark Horse faced a challenging day under tough weather and track conditions that saw penalty setbacks and lengthy interruptions.
Starting eighth after rain canceled qualifying, Logano quickly moved up to sixth by the competition caution on Lap 35 but struggled with rear grip issues in the closing laps of Stage 1, finishing ninth in that segment. His crew’s pit strategy during caution stops helped gain positions, positioning him seventh for the restart, though he slipped to 12th by Stage 2’s end.
As the race progressed, Logano re-entered the top 10 by Lap 325 but endured a setback when a speeding penalty during pit stops relegated him two laps down. The rain-induced caution allowed a wave around, helping Logano regain the lead lap, though heavier rain soon forced a red flag and pause in the action. Resuming under yellow with eight laps remaining, Logano used fresher tires to work back up to 14th despite multiple incidents in the final restarts.
“It was a cool weekend reaching 600 Cup starts, just wish we had a better showing for it. We had pretty good pace throughout the day and kept working on it but that speeding penalty halted the momentum we had going. Still proud of our guys for staying with it and getting us to a decent finish at the end.”
—Joey Logano, Driver
Race Dynamics and the Impact of Rain on Dover’s Autotrader 400
The Autotrader 400 at Dover Motor Speedway unfolded under unpredictable weather that significantly impacted race strategy and competition dynamics. Rain wiped out both practice and qualifying on Saturday, forcing the grid to be set by NASCAR’s rulebook, disadvantaging several drivers but testing their ability to gain positions amid chaos.
The competition caution on Lap 35 gave teams a chance to adjust early, while subsequent rain showers drew repeated cautions and a 56-minute red flag that altered momentum across the field. Pit strategy played a critical role, highlighted by Blaney’s last stops for tires that allowed him to gain positions late.
Multiple restarts in the closing laps led to incidents, demanding sharp focus and precise maneuvering, especially for drivers like Blaney and Cindric who started deep and advanced to strong finishes. The rain challenges also emphasized crew chiefs’ tactical decisions, such as when to pit and tire selection, all vital for navigating Dover’s wet and slick conditions.
Looking Ahead: NASCAR Cup Series Moves to Indianapolis
Following the intense events at Dover, the NASCAR Cup Series shifts its focus to the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Sunday, July 27. This race marks another significant challenge on one of the series’ most iconic tracks, with teams and drivers eager to build momentum after the unpredictable Autotrader 400.
Coverage will begin at 2:00 p.m. ET on TNT, with radio broadcasts available through the IMS Radio Network and Sirius XM NASCAR Radio Channel 90, ensuring fans worldwide stay connected to the action. With performances like Blaney’s display of grit and strategic racing compelling the series forward, anticipation grows for the next chapter in this vibrant and restless NASCAR season.