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Team Penske<\/a> star Ryan Blaney<\/a> is in good spirits as the NASCAR Cup Series<\/a> playoffs hit New Hampshire this weekend.
<\/p>\n \nFollowing last weekend’s chaotic Round of 16 finale at Bristol<\/a>, four drivers were eliminated from the postseason, with Blaney being one of the names to advance.
<\/p>\n \nThe Team Penske star and 11 of his rivals are now set to embark on the Round of 12, which will see them duke it out at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Kansas Speedway, and the Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course, after which another four further names will be cut from championship contention.
<\/p>\n \nNASCAR HEADLINES: Joey Logano playoff advantage revealed as Cup Series star dealt penalty blow<\/a>
<\/p>\n Blaney: Everyone is extremely confident<\/p>\n \nBlaney heads to New Hampshire in excellent form, having achieved four top-five finishes in his last five outings, including his fine victory in the regular season finale at Daytona.
<\/p>\n \nIt’s clear that the No. 12 driver has some serious momentum at this stage, and Blaney puts it down to the well-oiled Team Penske machine behind him.
<\/p>\n \n\u201cI feel like we\u2019ve just kind of gotten into this good rhythm, and that stuff just grows over time,\u201d Blaney explained to the media this week.
<\/p>\n \n\u201cI just think we\u2019re executing the way we need to. I feel like our mindset is just in a good place right now, where everyone\u2019s extremely confident in themselves and their ability, and they believe it, and that stuff definitely helps, you know? So it\u2019s the belief that we can do it.
<\/p>\n \n“And you know, we\u2019ve had the belief that we can do it the last two, three years. They\u2019re poised to do it, and it\u2019s really fun to be part of a group like that that has that mindset, like everyone\u2019s clicking together, everyone has each other\u2019s backs, like if I make a mistake, they\u2019re right there to support me. If they make a mistake, I support them.
<\/p>\n \n\u201cThat\u2019s just how a team works. So yeah, I just think we are a pretty well-oiled machine.\u201d
<\/p>\n \nSunday’s playoff race at New Hampshire kicks off at 2pm ET and will be broadcast live on USA.
<\/p>\n \nBlaney heads into the race fifth in the playoff standings<\/a>, currently +19 to the cutoff line.
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