CONCORD — Ryan Blaney demonstrated his improving patience and made sure that Kevin Harvick’s misery at Charlotte Motor Speedway continued.
Blaney passed Harvick on a restart with three laps to go and held on to win the Xfinity Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway Saturday.
Blaney went from last to first for his fifth career Xfinity victory. He had qualified third, but was sent to the back of the field to start the race because of unapproved tire changes to his No. 12 Ford.
“I have a lot better patience than I did a couple of years ago,” the 23-year-old Blaney joked when asked about starting at the back of the field. “You learn that as you run a little bit more in NASCAR. When you start in the back or something goes wrong and you lose five or six spots it’s the patience aspect of it.”
Meanwhile, Harvick’s tough luck at Charlotte continued. He has won 46 career Xfinity Series races, but remains winless at Charlotte.
Austin Dillon finished third, and Christopher Bell fourth in his Xfinity Series race debut.
Blaney joins father Dave as Xfinity Series winners as Charlotte. His father won in 2006.
“It’s pretty cool to win at the same track my father did,” Blaney said.
It was impressive day for Bell, who was the top non-Cup Series finisher.
The rookie spun out on the third lap, but battled back up the field to give himself a chance for a top-five finish. — AP
