Ryan Blaney’s day at Watkins Glen International took a dramatic turn when he became an early casualty during the Go Bowling at The Glen race. It all happened just one lap into the race, where Team Penske’s #12 car got caught in a multi-car pileup near the bus stop section of the track. This chaotic crash marked a disappointing early end for Blaney, as he found himself out of the race before it had barely begun. The crash led to a DNF (Did Not Finish) for the Penske driver, a bitter pill he was unwilling to swallow without protest. Feeling wronged by NASCAR’s handling of the situation, Blaney didn’t hold back from expressing his frustration.
What further aggravated Blaney’s day was how NASCAR officials decided to remove his car from the track. A crane was sent to tow the damaged vehicle, and with that, any hope of getting back into the race was extinguished. Blaney, not one to sit quietly, walked down pit road after his car was taken off, clearly frustrated and eager to have a word with the NASCAR officials about the decision.
When questioned if Team Penske should have been given more time to fix the car before it was towed away, Blaney’s response reflected his irritation. He argued that his team deserved a chance to assess the damage and potentially repair the car. His main gripe was that NASCAR had made a decision too quickly without allowing the team to see if the car was salvageable.
“Give us a chance to fix it,” Blaney said, visibly annoyed. “How do they know if we’re done or not? They have no idea of the damage. It’s not like I could drive it back to the pit box, and that’s why we’re done. They tow you back to the garage, and that’s it – you’re out. I don’t get why they wouldn’t let us at least try to fix it.”
Blaney went on to say that he didn’t fully understand what had even caused the accident in the first place. In the chaotic first lap, Blaney had stacked up with other drivers when suddenly another car from the left slammed into his, wrecking his steering completely. Whether or not his team could have fixed the damage remains unclear, but Blaney was adamant that they should have been given the chance to try.
This DNF at Watkins Glen was a significant blow to Blaney’s quest for the NASCAR Cup Series championship. Coming into the race, he held a +45 point advantage, but that cushion is expected to shrink after his early exit. For a driver vying for the championship, losing out on a chance to fight for positions due to a crash on the first lap was a frustrating outcome, to say the least.
As for NASCAR’s side of the story, their decision was rooted in the official rulebook. According to NASCAR regulations, officials are allowed to call a DNF under certain circumstances. Fox Sports’ Bob Pockrass reported that while NASCAR permits a car to be towed and continue racing if it’s a mechanical issue, the same doesn’t apply when the damage is a result of an accident. In those cases, the car must be removed from the track and taken either behind the pit wall or to the garage. Once towed, a damaged vehicle is not permitted to return to the race.
The rule, as it stands, reads: “A vehicle that sustains damage from an accident or contact of any kind, must go behind pit wall or to the garage area, whether under its own power or not, will not be permitted to return to the Race.” This policy was at the heart of why Blaney’s car was taken out of the race after the crash, leaving him no room to protest.
Blaney wasn’t the only one involved in the multi-car wreck. Other drivers such as Kyle Busch, Denny Hamlin, Christopher Bell, and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. were also affected by the crash and went off the track. However, while most of them were able to carry on with the race, Blaney and Stenhouse Jr. were not so fortunate and were sidelined immediately.
For Blaney, this race at Watkins Glen was one of those tough days where everything seemed to go wrong from the start. The crash, the quick decision by NASCAR, and the missed opportunity to stay in the race all contributed to his frustration. As the season marches on, Blaney will now have to regroup, refocus, and continue his push for the championship with fewer points than he hoped for after this race.
In the end, it was a day of frustration, missed chances, and early exits for Blaney. However, with the determination he’s shown throughout his career, fans can expect him to come back fighting in the next race.
Ryan Blaney’s Frustration Unleashed: “They Have No Idea of the Damage” After NASCAR’s First-Lap DNF at Watkins Glen
