Tim Fedewa, spotter for Ryan Blaney, out for Chicago Street Race after 'medical procedure'

After undergoing a recent medical procedure, Tim Fedewa is out this week for Chicago. Ryan Blaney has a new spotter for Sunday. Of course, all the NASCAR drivers will end up having multiple spotters at different points on the track.

Tim Fedewa is the main spotter for Ryan Blaney. Fedewa, a former NASCAR driver, joined the No. 12 team at the start of the season.

Fedewa had been with Kevin Harvick and the No. 4 team in 2023, but after the departure of Josh Williams from Team Penske, he took over the role with the 12. Dustin Long of NBC Sports pointed out Fedewa’s absence.

“Ryan Blaney will have a different spotter this weekend at Chicago. Spotter Tim Fedewa is out this weekend after a medical procedure,” Long posted on X.com, formerly known as Twitter. “Fedewa expected back next week at Pocono. Jefferson Hodges will be the primary spotter for Blaney.”

#NASCAR … Ryan Blaney will have a different spotter this weekend at Chicago. Spotter Tim Fedewa is out this weekend after a medical procedure. Fedewa expected back next week at Pocono. Jefferson Hodges will be the primary spotter for Blaney.

— Dustin Long (@dustinlong) July 5, 2024

Tim Fedewa and Ryan Blaney have done well together this season. That 12 team has had an up-and-down year but seems to be slowly dialing in great performances on a weekly basis. Crew chief Jonathan Hassler has a lot to do with that, too, of course.

A strong start to the season followed by a rough patch just before the summer. Since Sonoma, it’s been mostly good news for this 12 team. Even the P25 finish at New Hampshire is misleading, Michael McDowell took Blaney out of the top-5 late in that race.

With the win at Iowa and a consistent presence in the top-10 since Gateway, this 12-team is hitting its stride.

Ryan Blaney hoping to improve at Chicago

There are so many drivers who had bad days last year in Chicago. It was a hectic weekend that included historic rainfall in the city. Then daylight began to dwindle and threaten the end of the race.

Through all of the problems, it was seen as a success. Then again, drivers like Ryan Blaney wouldn’t feel very successful at the finish. P33 on the streets of the Windy City. Blaney is not a great road course racer, but he’s good enough to run in the top-5 and top-10 more times than not.

With Tim Fedewa out and Jefferson Hodges as the primary spotter, Ryan Blaney hopes to improve upon his P33 result in 2023. Hodges was hired on at Team Penske back in 2019 as the NASCAR Team Manager. He had been director of competition at Rev Racing and has experience as a crew chief at all levels of NASCAR.

Does Blaney have a chance to run up front this weekend? I think on a dry course, he has a chance at the very least. This is going to be a race that tests the limits of these drivers and should be another fun one in Chicago.