Ryan Blaney points to Chase Elliott for answers after last-lap contact ruins their day

On the final lap of the NASCAR Cup Series race at Michigan, Ryan Blaney and Chase Elliott made contact that cost them both. For Elliott, the contact could end up costing him a shot at the regular season championship.

This race only needed two days and one overtime restart in order to get the full distance in. Ryan Blaney won Stage 1 on Sunday. He was on his way to a top-5 finish today until he got into it with Chase Elliott.

Restarting for overtime, Blaney was P6, Elliott P7. After this contact on the final lap, Elliott finished P15 and Blaney P18.

One point could be all the difference between winning the regular season championship or not.

Chase Elliott and Ryan Blaney both lost spots on the final lap after this contact. #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/dpLFeCLeY7

— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) August 19, 2024

After the race, Ryan Blaney was asked about the contact. Blaney told Jeff Gluck to “Ask the 9.”

I asked Ryan Blaney what happened on the last lap.

"Ask the 9."

Chase Elliott made a quick exit from pit road and I didn't get to ask.

— Jeff Gluck (@jeff_gluck) August 19, 2024

Chase Elliott slid up the track looking back at the replay. He couldn’t hold the car down and got loose. Contact with the left front of Blaney and it cost both of them.

These two are friends off the track. So, I’m sure that they will talk about it and move on as they head to Daytona and Darlington. Both drivers are focused on doing what they have to do before the playoffs. For Blaney, it’s picking up as many playoff points as possible.

For Elliott, it’s about clinching the regular season championship. He is 10 points behind Reddick now. Had he finished P5 instead of P15, this is a tie race for the regular season. Now, Reddick has an advantage with two races to go.

Ryan Blaney and Chase Elliott miss out on valuable points

Every point at this time in the season matters. Both Ryan Blaney and Chase Elliott know that. While racing hard in overtime, these two talented drivers had a racing incident. Neither will be happy about it, but it is what it is.

I think that Blaney will get over it mostly because this hurts Elliott more. Blaney is 82 points out of the regular season lead. That is just too much to make up at this point in the season. Only four drivers have a shot at it at this point.

Tyler Reddick now leads the points standings. Chase Elliott follows 10 points down. Then we have Denny Hamlin who is 28 points out. Finally, Kyle Larson, who wrecked out of the race today, is 32 points back after entering the weekend +5 as the leader.

Ryan Blaney is still in a tight battle for fifth overall. William Byron is four points behind him and Christopher Bell is 29 points away. Every extra position in the playoffs helps. A top-5 starting position can save you from a catastrophic Round of 16.