FORT WORTH, Texas – Ryan Blaney needed two extra laps after thinking he had already won the NASCAR All-Star Race and $1 million, staying in front through a green-white-checkered finish after a caution came out just yards before he got to the line the first time Sunday night.
Blaney’s crew was already celebrating the victory in the pits of Texas Motor Speedway, and the Team Penske driver had already lowered the window net of his No. 12 Ford after crossing the start-finish line.
“Everybody thought the race was over,” said Blaney, who then had to gather himself and get the net back in position to finish the race.
The event may not count for season points, but it has to be completed on a green flag, and the yellow initially came out just before Blaney had crossed the line because Ricky Stenhouse Jr. slammed into the outside wall going into the back stretch.
“That rule was never kind of relayed to us. I already took my window net down and everything. My left arm is worn out from trying to get that damn thing back up,” Blaney said. “I got it rigged up enough to where it halfway stayed.