Blaney, Motorcraft/Quick Lane Team Carry On Woods’ Legacy of Strong Talladega Qualifying Runs

The Motorcraft/Quick Lane team had just the right mix of old and new during Saturday’s qualifying session that set the field for Sunday’s Geico 500 at Talladega Superspeedway.

The team, with young Ryan Blaney behind the wheel of the Wood Brothers’ No.21 Ford Fusion, delivered the kind of results the Woods regularly pulled off back in the day, as Blaney led the Ford contingent with a third-place effort.

It was his best qualifying run of his four career races in the No. 21, and it was the best effort at Talladega for the team since 2004 when Ricky Rudd qualified on the pole for the first race and took the outside pole for the second race. This run marks the 16th time that the Wood Brothers team has started in the top three at Talladega, and it was the second time Blaney has started in the top four at Talladega, which includes one run last year in a Team Penske Ford Fusion.

Like the results in Rudd’s day and before, Saturday’s result was due to a fine performance by the Motorcraft/Quick Lane team, led by crew chief Jeremy Bullins.

“It was a great effort by Jeremy and the entire Motorcraft/Quick Lane team,” said team co-owner Eddie Wood. “We’re thankful for all the support from Team Penske, and Ryan did a great job, giving us two solid qualifying laps.”

“Everything had to go right, and everyone did the right thing.”

Wood said the qualifying success gives his team both a prime pick when it comes to pit stalls and a highly desirable starting spot for the race.

“It’s great to be up front at Talladega where the pack is so tight,” he said.

Blaney said his goal at the start of Sunday’s race is to be around at the finish.

“We’ll try to stay out of trouble,” he said. “The big thing for us is trying to run all the laps”

“I think we’ve got a good car and we’ll see where it brings us tomorrow.”

Wood Brothers Racing PR