All in all, Sunday’s Toyota Save Mart 350 at Sonoma wasn’t exactly a good race for Ryan Blaney. Having clinched the Coca-Cola 600 after a 59-race winless streak, fans expected a decent run from the Team Penske driver. However, the Sonoma race called for some major troubles for Blaney, who not only finished in the 31st position but also failed to earn any stage points.
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Throughout the race, Blaney endured several spins and an unfortunate speeding penalty at his very first pit stop. However, on the bright side, this particular incident prompted Richard Childress to issue a timely warning that saved his grandson Austin Dillon from meeting a similar fate.
After Ryan Blaney’s Penalty, Richard Childress Issues a Timely Warning
During the race, Ryan Blaney was heard saying over the radio around turn 11, “(Turn) Eleven, it’s so tight through there.” And responding promptly to his concerns, Blaney’s spotter Josh Williams told him, “Pitting this time, by twelve (car lengths) out back.”
However, none of them anticipated that this pit stop during the early phase of the race will get them a penalty. Having violated the speed limit while driving on the pit road, Blaney was nabbed and penalized for going too fast. His spotter informed him over the radio, “Too fast on pit road, section eleven. So we’ll have a pass-through.”
Frustrated by the chain of events, Blaney blurted out a quick “Dammit,” while Richard Childress Racing owner and Austin Dillon’s grandfather used the incident as a lesson to issue a timely warning.
Childress said, “Remind him (Austin Dillon) of his pit road speed, because they just busted the #12.” And responding to his grandfather’s warning, Dillon immediately added, “Need grip, I am sliding everywhere.”
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Ryan Blaney Asks Media Personnel to Quit Creating Controversy
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Continuing with the string of unfortunate events at Sonoma, Ryan Blaney’s fateful wreck late in the race cost him his position in the Top 10. During the later part of the race, Michael McDowell made contact with the #12’s rear end and spun it out of the race.
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Unable to recover from the crash, Blaney finished 31st and was clearly upset about it. However, despite it all, the Team Penske driver made it clear that he was not there to stir up drama and warned the media personnel to not start a controversy. When asked about Michael McDowell dumping him during the race, Blaney plainly replied, “He dumped me. Gosh, I don’t know I can’t see it. Stop trying to start controversy.”
Ryan Blaney was not in the mood to chat after the race after getting spun by Michael McDowell
"He dumped me. I dont know. Quit trying to create controversy."#NASCAR #ToyotaSaveMart350 pic.twitter.com/sbAmad0YxM
— Bryan Nolen (@TheBryanNolen) June 11, 2023
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Blaney’s response was a clear indication that he was not looking to indulge in any unnecessary drama. Unable to understand McDowell’s action, the #12 driver seems to understand the intense pressure and the unfortunate incidents a driver has to endure during some tough days.
READ MORE: “Shocked” Team Penske Star Ryan Blaney Names the “Stupidest Race Car Driver Ever” at Daytona 500