When he spoke to CBS Sports at the outset of the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series playoffs, Ryan Blaney shared that above all else, he entered this year's race for the championship motivated by the opportunity to win back-to-back Cup titles -- something only a select few elites to ever set foot in a stock car have ever been able to lay a claim to.

All four NASCAR Xfinity championship drivers said the right things heading into the season finale. Everyone will be respectful of each other on the track, I’m just going to run my race, let the best man win — you get the picture.