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Kyle Larson, Ryan Blaney exchange words on pit road after incident at Gateway

JHby: Jonathan Howard09/07/25Jondean25
kyle larson ryan blaney gateway nascar
Left: Mandatory Credit: Stan Szeto-Imagn ImagesRight: Mandatory Credit: Stan Szeto-Imagn Images

Following the Enjoy Illinois 300, Kyle Larson and Ryan Blaney met up on pit road and exchanged words about the in-race incident. The second race of the NASCAR Playoffs went well for both drivers, but Blaney felt wronged after getting spun out by Larson.

Ryan Blaney had a good day at Gateway. But he arguably could have contended for the lead and the race win. Advancing early in the round is a big advantage, and Blaney had the opportunity taken from him after the spin.

The two drivers met on pit road after the finish. It was a cordial conversation, but Blaney still feels like the scales are imbalanced. No pushing or shoving, but no one was really smiling, either.

The contact from Kyle Larson was strange. He sent his car deep into the corner while he was chasing Ryan Blaney for fifth place. It happened after the two were racing hard for that position. Blaney ended up coming out on top in that exchange.

Larson came in too fast, washed up the track, and hit Blaney. That’s what happened, and both sides know it. The two drivers revealed what they discussed shortly afterward on TV.

Ryan Blaney reacts to Kyle Larson incident

Ryan Blaney is going to tuck today’s incident at Gateway into the back of his mind. He’s got it as a card up his sleeve now. In the next crucial moment, these NASCAR Playoffs, where Larson might need a break, it’s not coming from Blaney.

The two drivers had a discussion on pit road. Then, they spoke to TV about what they discussed. While Blaney accepted Larson’s explanation, he wasn’t pleased with the answer, either.

“Um, I just wanted to know what I did to deserve it. He just said he made a mistake, and you know, yeah that’s fine, make mistakes, but at the end of the day, I still got turned,” Blaney said on USA. “He came from all the way on the bottom of the racetrack and hit me in the left rear. I know he most likely didn’t mean to do it, but it happened anyway. So, that’s just one I gotta remember, but I was happy we bounced back. After getting turned around and did a good job of kinda timing out where we needed to be and having a good enough car to get back to fourth.”

Ryan Blaney is going to have a long memory about today. He sees himself as being cheated out of a win. Could he rebound and win Bristol next week to make up for it?