NASCAR insider calls for rule change in wake of Ryan Blaney controversy at Watkins Glen
This afternoon the NASCAR Cup Series race had a bit of controversy as Ryan Blaney was told he was done for the day after a Lap 1 wreck. The Team Penske driver was openly frustrated with the ruling from officials.
Ryan Blaney believed that his team should have been given time to fix their car. At least have a look at it and see if fixing it would be possible. NASCAR argued that he was towed away after the wreck because he couldn’t drive away.
Well, Blaney argued, drivers get flat tires and are towed to pit lane all the time. What’s the difference?
After the race, Bob Pockrass of FOX Sports weighed in on the issue. He sympathized with the reigning Cup Series champion.
“Did Ryan Blaney get the raw end of a NASCAR rule? No,” Pockrass said in his Fast Thoughts debrief. “In the sense of NASCAR made the right ruling. His car was stopped on the track after a crash, he’s out of the race. But is that the way it should be? No, it shouldn’t be that way. Especially in the playoffs. Especially when these drivers who have worked all year are now stuck in these three race rounds to try to have to prove something to try to have to do something to try to have to earn points or wins, and you’re going to take it all away after a first lap crash, especially at a road course where things tend to get jumbled up?”
Ryan Blaney has responsibility, but rule change should be considered
During his breakdown of the Ryan Blaney incident, Pockrass played Devil’s Advocate. He came at this issue from both sides.
“Yes, he could have qualified better and part of it is his fault but man, I just think that this stunk for him and I’m not big on, ‘Hey let’s just change the rules’ because you know at this one instance somebody got the raw end of the deal,” the NASCAR insider continued. “But you think about Martin Truex Jr., he had the same issue in the past. Let them at least look at the car let them at least see if they can change it.
“Now, I know what you’re going to say, you’re going to say, ‘Bob, something will fall off a damaged vehicle in the playoffs and cause a caution.’ Well, I think you saw today that playoff drivers can cause cautions, plenty of them on their own. So, it’s the rule but I still think Ryan Blaney got the raw end of it and I wouldn’t mind seeing NASCAR taking a look either changing the Damaged Vehicle Policy for the playoffs, for all cars, and just say, ‘Hey we’ll tow you back, and give you the six or seven minutes or eight minutes depending on the track and let you see if you can get the work done.'”
So, is a rule change needed? The Ryan Blaney Damaged Vehicle Policy? And would this only be a postseason thing? Why not regular season?
Ryan Blaney himself admitted it probably was wrecked. But all he wanted was a chance to fix it. His team did not get that.