Ryan Blaney's practice session at Las Vegas Motor Speedway took a wrong turn when an unexpected crash jeopardized his weekend as NASCAR Cup Series playoffs continue. During what should have been a routine session, Blaney's No. 12 Team Penske Ford collided with the Turn 1 retaining wall, leaving him at a disadvantage for the upcoming South Point 400 race on Sunday.
The crash was attributed to a sudden flat tire, which sent the car spinning uncontrollably.
"I had no warning," Blaney said to his team via the in-car radio reflecting on the incident, via NASCAR.
This setback places Blaney in a challenging position as he starts the South Point 400 from the back of the field, creating potential obstacles in his pursuit of a championship title. The race, which kicks off the three-race Round of 8 in the playoffs, is crucial as it will help determine the finalists competing for the championship on November 10 at Phoenix Raceway. The competition will be broadcast on multiple platforms, including NBC, PRN Radio, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, and the NBC Sports App.
Blaney's current status in the playoffs sees him deeply under pressure, as he faces a four-point deficit to the cut line. With the clock ticking, there is little room for error if he is to advance in the standings. He enters the playoff round as the defending Cup Series champion, a title that carries added expectations this season.
While holding the championship, Blaney has had a pretty solid 2024 season. Outside of a disappointing finish at Watkins Glen International, his playoff performance has been commendable with six top-10 finishes or better in every race, save for this recent setback.
Blaney's career as a NASCAR driver traces back to his roots. Born in Hartford, Ohio, he was raised in a family with a storied motorsport history. His father, Dave Blaney, and grandfather, Lou Blaney, both made their own marks in racing. Since 2016, Blaney has been competing full-time in the NASCAR Cup Series and represents Team Penske behind the wheel of the No. 12 Ford Mustang Dark Horse. This wealth of experience was supposed to guide him smoothly through the playoffs, but he's just managed to hold on, despite still being in championship contention.
Under the guidance of crew chief Jonathan Hassler, Team Penske has shown a high level of performance this season, with all three of its drivers reaching the Playoffs, albeit with Blaney being the only driver remaining.
His partnership with Team Penske, now in its seventh season, has yielded remarkable achievements. Amongst them, his first career Cup Series victory in 2017 at the Axalta presents the Pocono 400 and winning the Coca-Cola 600 in 2023 during a hard-fought championship run.
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