Blaney Wins Overtime NASCAR Cup Race at Atlanta After Wall Contact

Ryan Blaney won the NASCAR Cup Series race at Atlanta early Monday after a three-wide battle on the final lap of overtime. Blaney started on the pole, led 171 laps, and won every stage. He brushed the wall with 29 laps remaining after being cut off but remained on the track despite reporting a vibration.

Blaney held off Bubba Wallace and Christopher Hill on the last lap. Wallace was penalized for passing below the double yellow lines and finished 29th. Carson Hocevar and Ty Gibbs finished third and fourth. A multi-car wreck with five laps left triggered the overtime period. Officials delayed the race for three hours and nine minutes due to rain and lightning before resuming just after midnight.

Blaney said he tried to make a move, got loose, and hit the fence. He added that the contact left concrete and paint in the wheels but the car still drove well enough to continue. His crew chief Jonathan Hassler said photos of the right side showed staying out gave the team its best chance to win with 30 cars on the lead lap and few laps remaining.

>"I tried to make a move and just got loose and hit the fence. You know I think it's just concrete in the wheels and paint and stuff like that but luckily it still drove really decent. The race had been largely clean until that point. Denny Hamlin, the points leader, started 28th and finished 12th.

Team Penske drivers occupied the top two qualifying spots, with Joey Logano starting second and Austin Cindric moving to third early. Blaney said he took a nap and ate during the delay. Another driver noted the late restart was past his bedtime.