Ryan Blaney curses out Ross Chastain, crew chief Brandon McReynolds on radio after trying to pass
While trying to get around Ross Chastain for fourth place in Stage 1, Ryan Blaney lost his cool a little bit on his radio. Blaney was fed up with Chastain’s antics and wanted his spotter to go “knock out” his counterpart on Chastain’s NASCAR team.
Brandon McReynolds and Ross Chastain do not make it easy to pass no matter what. Same lap, being lapped, lapping other cars, it is like a Ryan Newman style of racing that prevents passing at all costs.
These are two NASCAR Playoffs drivers trying to earn as many points as possible. So, you can’t blame them for emotions running high. But Blaney was MAD.
“Go f***ing knock Brandon McReynolds out. What a f***ing d***head,” Ryan Blaney said on his radio, via Dustin Albino.”You [Chastain] would go faster if you looked out the f***ing windshield.”
Ryan Blaney has had some issues on the day. He didn’t have his car balanced the way he wanted it. Then as he got going with a few adjustments heading into the last laps of the first stage, Chastain gave him a hard time. Blaney finished 5th in the stage, but wanted a little bit more.
The nightmare continued as the stage ended, and Blaney found himself falling further back in the field. When it rains, it pours.
Ryan Blaney loses 10 spots on pit road
After the stage ended, the field went to pit road to get tires and fuel for the next long green flag run. It was not the best stop for Ryan Blaney. The No. 12 team had the car come down early on the pit stop and had to jack it back up in order to get the pit stop completed.
Coming off pit road, Blaney dropped 10 spots. In a situation where he feels like he could win if he just made the right adjustments, that has to feel demoralizing, to say the least. Despite getting the car adjusted, the pit road mistake took away his momentum.
He would find himself back in the top-10 soon enough. However, top-10 and top-5 is a lot different when it comes to the playoffs.
It is frustrating when you can’t get around another driver. However, it is the playoffs. Ryan Blaney will have to find speed, stay calm, and hope that his team can come through for him when it matters most. He isn’t out of this race, but it will be a tough road to get to the front.