Ryan Blaney had a rough day at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, ending his race late after a big crash that left him frustrated. Initially, Blaney blamed Christopher Bell for the wreck, but after watching the replay, he realized he had misjudged the situation.
A Costly Miscommunication for Ryan Blaney
Blaney was running strong when disaster struck with just a few laps to go. During a late-race battle, things got tight as multiple cars fought for position.
Blaney found himself in a four-wide situation alongside Bell, Noah Gragson, and Bubba Wallace. In the chaos, Blaney made contact on his right rear, sending him toward the outside wall and triggering a wreck that ended his day.
A frustrating weekend for Ryan Blaney continues. Here's what happened: https://t.co/nHYziKb1ie pic.twitter.com/RJZUTv5RMp
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) March 16, 2025
In the heat of the moment, Blaney vented his frustration over the radio, blaming Bell for the incident. He believed Bell had been too aggressive and forced him into a bad spot. But after the race, Blaney took a step back, reviewed the footage, and realized he had been wrong.
“We were four-wide there, and honestly, I thought I had two inside, one outside of me,” Blaney admitted to Bob Pockrass of Fox Sports. “I watched one little replay, and I had two outside, one inside. We’ll have to go back and see if I heard it wrong or if there was some miscommunication.”
His initial anger quickly turned into regret as he accepted responsibility for the crash, which dropped him to a disappointing 34th-place finish.
A Weekend To Forget for Blaney
The Las Vegas race was already shaping up to be a tough one for Blaney. His team struggled with various issues, including tire problems and a two-lap penalty. Despite having a fast car, things just didn’t go his way. The crash was the final blow, wiping out any chance of a solid result.
Blaney wasn’t the only driver who had trouble at Vegas. Several others, including Chase Briscoe, Erik Jones, and Christopher Bell, faced setbacks throughout the race. But for Blaney, this one stung a little more — especially since he initially blamed someone else for what turned out to be his own mistake.
Looking ahead, Blaney will aim to put the Las Vegas weekend behind him and bounce back in the next race. In NASCAR, things happen fast, and emotions run high.
Blaney’s willingness to admit his mistake shows his maturity as a driver. Now, the focus shifts to how he can recover from this setback and get back to competing for wins.