The opening lap chaos took out several drivers. Corey LaJoie clipped Kyle Busch, sending the RCR driver spinning and triggering a pileup. Denny Hamlin, Ryan Blaney, Christopher Bell, and Brad Keselowski all got caught in the mess. Of all the drivers, Ryan Blaney’s day ended early when his car was taken to the garage.

Under NASCAR’s Damaged Vehicle Policy, repairs must be made in the pit lane within a set time. Since Blaney’s car went straight to the garage, he wasn’t allowed to continue.

Ryan Blaney in the chaos of the bus stop turn

It was just the first lap, and it came with major consequences for Ryan Blaney. The defending champion, who was +33 points on the cutline, has to watch the race instead of running it. The worst part was that it was not due to his car causing the wrecks.

After Blaney was taken to the garage, he was furious with the decision. Wanting to prove his point, he addressed NASCAR and said, “Give us a chance to fix it. They have no idea of the damage.” But it was futile, and the livid Blaney ended up saying, “I don’t know what’s going on and why they didn’t give us a shot to work on it.”

The update was shared by Bob Pockrass on X, as he posted 2 screenshots of DVP, and wrote, “NASCAR allows for towing and remaining in race for mechanical issue but not damage.”

As a result, NASCAR ruled that Blaney would be placed 38th in the race, and this heavily impacted the playoff picture. Denny Hamlin, who too had significant damage to the car, took his vehicle back into the pit road. He suffered a lap of being in there to get his car started, and when the restart took place, he was 36th and finished the race in P23.

Unhappy fans raise their voice for the defending champ’s unjust

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Many fans are rooting for Ryan Blaney, as they would want to see him score a second championship in a row. NASCAR made their decision based on the DVP, and that did not sit well with fans. One fan summed up their perspective perfectly in their comment: “Well, NASCAR screwed Blaney big.”

The rigidity of the rulebook came under fire, with fans calling for changes. “The rulebook needs a rewrite,” one fan stated, coming with a broader call for NASCAR to modernize its policies to better suit the type of racing fans want to see.

Some fans argued that teams should be given a chance to fix their cars if it can be done safely. “I’d like to know why, though. If it can safely be fixed, the team deserves that chance,” one fan commented. They believe that less intervention from NASCAR would lead to a fairer competition, much like referees in other sports aim to let the game flow naturally.

The DVP itself was heavily criticized. “The DVP policy is an absolute joke,” one fan stated bluntly. This comment highlights the frustration with a policy that many feel is too harsh and inflexible, often leading to unfair outcomes.

NASCAR’s Damaged Vehicle Policy (DVP), introduced in 2017, sets clear limits on how teams can repair cars during a race.

• Teams have six minutes on the pit road to complete repairs.
• If more time is needed or repairs are required in the garage, the car is disqualified.
• Cars must meet the minimum speed to remain in the race.
• Non-accident mechanical repairs are exempt from the time limit, as they don’t pose immediate safety risks.

Fans also questioned the consistency of NASCAR’s decisions. “So Allmendinger should not be allowed to continue,” one fan pointed out, suggesting that if Blaney was barred, then other drivers in similar situations should face the same restrictions. However, due to a mechanical failure on lap 6, AJ Allmendinger’s ‘Go Bowling at the Glen’ run was also cut short, and he also had to exit the race early, as a result ending the race with a DNF and P36.

It was a sad turnout for the likes of Ryan Blaney, AJ Allmendinger, and Ricky Stenshouse Jr. Despite not scoring points in this race, Blaney especially remains above the elimination line in P8, ahead of Kyle Larson, William Byron, Chase Briscoe, and Ty Gibbs.

Considering all of this, do you think he still has a shot at winning the championship?