Ryan Blaney faced a major setback during Saturday’s NASCAR Cup Series practice at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The No. 12 Team Penske driver spun after a flat right-rear tire exiting Turn 2, sending his Ford Dark Horse Mustang backward into the outside SAFER barrier. Despite the crash, Blaney was evaluated and released from the infield care center without injury.
Rather than switching to a backup car, Team Penske chose to repair the damaged primary vehicle. However, the incident means Blaney will not post a qualifying lap and must start from the rear in Sunday’s Pennzoil 400. The tire failure surprised Blaney, who was unsure whether he ran over debris or if there was another cause. “It ran 18, 20 laps, so I thought it was no problem,” Blaney said, adding, “I hate blowing tires.”
Crew chief Jonathan Hassler shared his perspective with Performance Racing Network Radio, expressing doubt that debris caused the failure. “Unfortunate it happened, but happy it happened in practice and not the race,” Hassler said. He suggested that certain setup parameters may have contributed to the issue but remained optimistic about their performance on Sunday.
Blaney’s current situation mirrors last October’s race at Las Vegas when he also suffered a blown tire in practice, forcing the team to use a backup car. Reflecting on the repeat incident, Blaney acknowledged the challenge but praised his team’s ability to handle adversity. “They respond well. It’s something I’m really proud of them for,” he said. “I’m sure we’ll bounce back from it like we always do.”
The team quickly began repairs on the primary car, focusing on replacing the rear bumper and diffuser. Within 40 minutes of the spin, significant progress was being made in the Las Vegas garage.
Despite the early setback, Blaney remains confident in his team’s ability to recover and compete effectively. The Pennzoil 400 presented by Jiffy Lube is scheduled for Sunday at 3:30 p.m. ET and will be broadcast on FS1, PRN Radio, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
