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Ryan Blaney wins dramatic Atlanta NASCAR Cup race as Bubba Wallace penalized
Motorsport.com • • general
Key Points:
- Ryan Blaney won a dramatic overtime NASCAR Cup race at EchoPark Speedway, securing his second victory of the 2026 season and 19th career win, after a late battle with Carson Hocevar and Bubba Wallace.
- Wallace was penalized for advancing his position by going below the yellow line during the final three-wide fight, dropping him from second to 29th place, with Christopher Bell officially credited with second and Hocevar third.
- The race featured multiple lead changes, aggressive driving, and a lengthy three-hour red flag due to lightning, with Blaney dominating early stages and managing to hold off fierce competition in the closing laps.
- Shane van Gisbergen finished sixth in an impressive performance, while other top finishers included Ty Gibbs, Erik Jones, Austin Dillon, Tyler Reddick, Joey Logano, and Chris Buescher.
- Blaney's win marked Ford's 750th NASCAR Cup victory, and he praised his team's strong performance, highlighting a near-perfect weekend by winning from pole position and sweeping both stages.
