Blaney owes pal big thanks

Keselowski helped last week’s winner start in NASCAR.

Ryan Blaney’s victory meant a lot to Brad Keselowski.

Keselowski gave Blaney a big opportunity in 2012, when Blaney had a chance to drive with Keselowski’s team in the Truck Series. Five years later, the 23-yearold Blaney won for the first time in NASCAR’s Cup Series when he prevailed last weekend at Pocono.

It was a win that gave Ford a lot to feel good about before this weekend’s always-anticipated race at Michigan — and Keselowski, another Ford driver, clearly enjoyed Blaney’s success.

“I think there’s a lot of moments you have in life that you really don’t prepare for and when it happens it’s just pretty dang awesome,” Keselowski said. “That was a pretty dang awesome moment for me, to see him win and to see one of his dreams come true.”

Keselowski’s own career floundered before he got the chance a decade ago to drive for Dale Earnhardt Jr. on the Nationwide Series. He says the support he received from Earnhardt means a lot.

There are some similarities between their relationship and the way Keselowski has helped Blaney.

“I wouldn’t be where I am at in my career without the help of people that have given me the opportunities, and I’m thankful for them, but I can never really repay them for that. And so what I can do is pay it forward to others and give that same opportunity,” Keselowski said. “Seeing someone like Ryan win is almost like the best ‘thank you’ I can give to Dale Jr. or to Roger (Penske), or to my dad and family that gave me opportunities.”

The events at Michigan International Speedway, in Brooklyn about 70 miles from Detroit, are always important to Ford and Chevrolet, and those manufacturers split the two Cup races at the track last year. With Keselowski and Kevin Harvick both in the top five in driver points, and Blaney coming off his win last week, there are plenty of encouraging signs for Ford.

Keselowski, from Rochester Hills, is winless in 15 Cup starts at Michigan,

Xfinity: Denny Hamlin inched ahead of William Byron on the final turn and nosed out the rookie at the finish line, winning Saturday in the closest NASCAR Xfinity race at Michigan International Speedway since the advent of electronic scoring in the series.

It was Hamlin’s 16th career Xfinity victory and first in three starts this year, but the 19-year-old Byron made him earn it. The Monster Energy Cup Series veteran eventually prevailed by 0.012 of a second in his No. 20 Toyota.

Elliott Sadler finished third behind Hamlin, and Byron and took over the series lead from Justin Allgaier.

Le Mans 24 Hours: Toyota remained in the lead at the eight-hour mark of the 85th race in France, scheduled to end today.

Ryan Blaney finally got his first win after 67 starts.