NASCAR insiders react to rough stretch for Ryan Blaney, another DNF at Homestead

Every year there are drivers who perform well but don’t see that performance rewarded all the way in the standings. Ryan Blaney is quickly becoming familiar with the phenomenon this season.

Blaney has been blazing on the track in recent weeks, only to see mechanical failures end two of his last three races. He’s now failed to finish his last three races.

“First time in his career he’s had three DNFs. He has blown up in two of the last three races,” NASCAR insider for The Athletic Jeff Gluck said on The Teardown podcast. “And Jonathan Fjeld from the Racing Experts tweeted, ‘Before this season Ryan Blaney had only five engine failures in his entire Cup career, but none since the 2018 Coke 600.’ So almost seven years ago. In the first five races this season he now has two. Pretty frustrating for Blaney because he was really coming here and kicking butt.”

Ryan Blaney was running in third place at the Straight Talk Wireless 400 on Sunday when his engine blew. He had led for 124 laps in the race, a dominant showing.

All for naught, of course. And this isn’t the first issue like that he’s had where a win was well within sight.

“Obviously Homestead last year for him he was going to win the race, on the last lap the Tyler Reddick pass,” Gluck said. “Keeps him out of the final four temporarily. He’s then got to win his way in and have some more heroics. But this would have been a very nice redemption for him and more proof of how much he has gained at Homestead as well as all types of other tracks. Because as we’ll talk about later as we’re going to talk about Martinsville next week, all the drivers say Blaney is by far the guy to beat at Martinsville now.”

He’ll have to battle Denny Hamlin for that nod, with Hamlin a record five-time winner at Martinsville. Still, Hamlin hasn’t won there since 2015 so the window is open.

Can Ryan Blaney overcome the equipment issues to put together a strong finish on the track? Maybe even a win?

After the disaster at Homestead, the 12 team will certainly be hoping so. They could use it.

“Blaney is really, really establishing himself in multiple ways and this would have been a big message to send if he was able to close this one out today,” Gluck said. “Unfortunately, as he’s running in third place his engine just goes with no warning. But still, I mean if you’re Blaney, he’s 10th in points but he’s run so much better than that it’s crazy.”

Ryan Blaney is indeed 10th in the current points standings. He’s sitting on 162 points, with 69 of those points coming from stage placement. Only points leader William Byron has more from stage points (70).

Bottom line: Blaney is racing well. He just needs to close things out. Having engines that don’t blow is a big part of that.