Ryan Blaney’s weekend at Las Vegas Motor Speedway was one he’d rather forget. Despite running well for most of the race, a late crash ended his day early. Now, the Team Penske driver is focused on bouncing back at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
A Rough Weekend From Start to Finish for Ryan Blaney
Blaney’s troubles started before the race. During Saturday’s practice session, a right-rear tire failure sent him crashing, forcing his team into a long night of repairs. But despite the setback, he entered Sunday’s race optimistic, showing good pace and working his way into the top five.
However, things fell apart with just over 70 laps remaining. While racing in a tight pack, Blaney got caught in a chain reaction. Christopher Bell squeezed him from the inside, forcing him up the track. Before Blaney could react, Noah Gragson clipped his right rear, sending him spinning hard into the wall. His race was done, and he finished a disappointing 35th.
Another look at the incident on Lap 195. pic.twitter.com/QOuIuRKmAN
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) March 16, 2025
With the incident in the rear-view mirror and a critical visit to Miami on the docket, Blaney will need to rebound quickly to stop his skid.
Looking Ahead to Homestead-Miami
At first, Blaney was frustrated with Bell, feeling he’d been forced into a bad spot. But after reviewing the footage, he admitted he may have misjudged the moment.
“We’ll have to go back and see if I heard it wrong or if there was some miscommunication,” Blaney said. “Pretty sure it was my mistake.”
Despite the frustration, Blaney is ready to move on. “Was a challenging weekend, but we will get back at it in Homestead-Miami,” he said. “We worked hard to get it right and moved into the top five, but sometimes things just don’t go your way.”
With Homestead-Miami up next, Blaney and his team are determined to turn things around. He’s run well at the Florida track before, and with his talent and a fast car, he’s confident he can bounce back.
Blaney’s resilience has been tested, but if he’s proven anything, it’s that he doesn’t back down from a challenge. Homestead-Miami could be the perfect place for him to remind everyone why he’s one of NASCAR’s top drivers.