Ryan Blaney, driving for Team Penske, secured his 18th NASCAR Cup Series victory on Sunday by winning the Straight Talk Wireless 500 at Phoenix Raceway. This win ties him with five other notable drivers on the all-time NASCAR Cup Series wins list, reflecting his growing legacy in the sport.
Joining the Ranks of NASCAR Veterans
Blaney’s 18th career triumph places him alongside esteemed drivers including 1986 Daytona 500 champion and two-time Coca-Cola 600 winner Neil Bonnett, NASCAR Hall of Fame inductee set for 2026 Harry Gant, three-time Coca-Cola 600 winner Kasey Kahne, and 2008 Daytona 500 winner Ryan Newman. These drivers occupy the 49th position on the all-time wins leaderboard.
Expressing his respect, Blaney said to The Racing Experts,
“It’s neat, I didn’t know that, that I tied those guys. Big fan of those guys.”
Obviously Neil Bonnett, I got to know a lot about him when I ran for the Wood Brothers. Eddie and Len had a lot of amazing stories with Neil.
Ryan Blaney, NASCAR Cup Series driver
Blaney also shared the track with Kahne and Newman during his career.
Obviously I grew up a huge Kasey Kahne fan,
he added.
“I got to race with Kasey for a long time and loved him in the 9 days, things like that.”
Just special to be part of the group of those guys with Cup wins. Just happy to be part of a group like that. It means a lot.
Ryan Blaney, NASCAR Cup Series driver
Climbing Towards Higher Standings on the Wins List
Directly ahead of Blaney on the NASCAR Cup Series wins list are drivers such as Davey Allison, Buddy Baker, Greg Biffle, and Fonty Flock, each with 19 career victories. Blaney’s recent success signals his competitive push to move up this prestigious ranking.
Looking Forward to Upcoming NASCAR Races
The next NASCAR Cup Series event is scheduled for Sunday, March 15, at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, where Blaney and other drivers will continue competing for wins and further distinctions.
