When the Coke Zero Sugar 400 got underway at Daytona, Ryan Blaney was getting pretty desperate. This was because it was the regular season finale and there were two spots up for grabs.
Over here, Blaney’s only options were to either win the race or outscore Martin Truex Jr.
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Unfortunately, the wreck made his job a lot more difficult. Apparently, he felt that teammate Joey Logano and Hendrick Motorsports driver Chase Elliott had something to do with it.
So, he raged on the team radio, “I f***ing appreciate that, Joey and the #9!”
Did Ryan Blaney reach the Playoffs after the race concluded?
The good news for the Team Penske driver was that he was still able to reach the Playoffs. This was in spite of Austin Dillon winning the race and booking his own seat.
Incidentally, Logano and Elliott were nowhere near the crash, so it was a little baffling that Blaney faulted them. In the end, the #12 driver managed to finish the race in 15th place.
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Although Playoff rival Martin Truex Jr finished in 8th place, it was not enough to outscore Blaney. Owing to this, while he may be mad at Logano and Elliott initially, Ryan Blaney might let it go because he has qualified. Truthfully speaking, he cannot afford to get involved in some petty revenge.
In the coming race weekend, he and the other 15 Playoff drivers will have to focus on the battles ahead. From Darlington onwards, the real battle begins to clinch the 2022 NASCAR Cup Series championship.
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WATCH THIS STORY: Ryan Blaney Reveals True Feelings on New NASCAR Deal After Dad Never Got a Shot at “Penske or a Hendrick or a Gibbs”
On the other end of the scale, once he sees the replays of the wreck, he might find that Joey Logano and Chase Elliott were innocent. Then again, it does not matter to him anymore, and if any driver has to be mad, it is Martin Truex Jr.