Ryan Blaney, struggling in NASCAR playoffs, draws strength from Randy Savage ahead of Talladega race.

Ryan Blaney, reeling from a Las Vegas crash that left him last in the NASCAR playoff standings and 31 points below the cutline, is drawing motivation from late wrestler Randy Savage ahead of the Talladega playoff race. Despite three wins and six top-fives at the track, Blaney has failed to finish six of his 22 starts there, including the last two. With two races remaining, he and teammates Joey Logano, Chase Elliott, and William Byron are among the bottom four. Blaney remains focused on mental resilience, quoting Savage’s “cream rises” mantra. The Talladega race marks the first third-round playoff event at the track since 2004, with no repeat winners in the past 10 races and the leader in laps never winning in that span. Blaney is the betting favorite at plus-1000, but playoff advancement hinges on multiple results.