Ryan Blaney wrecks into the wall during practice, won't qualify at Las Vegas
Bad news for defending NASCAR Cup Series champion Ryan Blaney. He has wrecked in practice and won’t make a qualifying lap. The Team Penske driver had a flat tire that sent him up into the wall.
Practice was going on as normal and then the red flag was out. Ryan Blaney’s car had snapped on him and before he could regain control of the No. 12 Ford, it was up into the wall.
Blaney is one of the eight drivers racing for a spot in the Championship 4 at Phoenix. For now, his repeat hopes are still alive. But Blaney will start in the rear of Sunday’s race.
Every little bit matters at this point in the season. Ryan Blaney knows that he has a long day ahead of him tomorrow. Starting in the back will be tough, getting in a backup car and making it work won’t make any of that easier.
Blaney has had issues with wrecks this season. He has more DNFs than any other season in his career. That means he has missed out on a lot of points. This time, the wreck wasn’t his fault exactly, but he wasn’t caught up in someone else’s mess.
Top 10
- 1
USF MBB coach dies
USF men’s basketball coach Amir Abdur-Rahim dead at age 43
- 2New
CFB25 player ratings
Massive changes to the game
- 3Hot
AJ McCarron slams Bama
'Everyone's worried about f-----g TikTok'
- 4
Grayson McCall retires
NC State QB announces retirement from playing football following injury
- 5
CBB Coaches Poll
The first rankings are in
Again, starting in the rear puts him at more risk of a DNF. That is the part of the field where no one gives an inch and a wreck is bound to happen at any moment. Not a comfortable place for a NASCAR Playoff driver.
Ryan Blaney ready to make hay
After hitting the wall, Ryan Blaney had to go to the care center. Once he was cleared from there, he spoke to Kim Coon about the moment. He didn’t really feel it coming until it was too late.
“Just stinks. I didn’t feel anything odd down the fronstretch and just a shame it ended our practice early and we got our work cut out for us for a backup car, all that stuff,’ Blaney explained. “But hopefully, we’ll be able to fight back from it and go to work tomorrow.”
The Team Penske driver then went into what Sunday will look like.
“It’s definitely a lot to overcome for sure starting in the back. You know, no laps with this backup car but I’ve got all the faith in the world in our group, our 12 group. So I have confidence that hopefully we can make some hay tomorrow and do it early to try to get up through there. It sets you back a little bit but this team, you know, they thrive under that type of pressure and things like that. So I’m happy to be with a group like that and unfortunate situation that we’re in but we’ll claw our way through.”