Ryan Blaney identified himself as an “innocent bystander” following a collision with Chris Buescher on lap 62 during Sunday’s Toyota/Save Mart 350 at Sonoma Raceway. The incident occurred as both drivers exited Turn 1, where the two sideswiped each other, resulting in Blaney being forced onto the grass and ultimately crashing into a tire wall. This mishap brought a premature end to his race and placed him in 36th position, while Buescher continued to finish 16th.
Reflecting on the crash, Blaney said,
“It was going well till we got wrecked by the 17,”
and when asked if the contact was intentional, he responded,
“I don’t know. You’ve got to talk to him.”
He further explained the situation, stating,
“I don’t think he intentionally meant to do it, but he overdrove (Turn) 1 and I was the innocent bystander. I thought we were really good today. I thought (we were a) third, fourth, fifth place car.”
Recent Struggles Add Pressure as Blaney Maintains Steady Cup Standings
Despite the setback at Sonoma Raceway, Blaney remains seventh in the Cup standings, but the recent results have been challenging for him. This race marked his third finish outside the top 30 in the last six events, coming after disappointing runs that included a 40th place at Atlanta and 32nd at Michigan. Blaney acknowledged the frustration, stating,
“It was a shame that it didn’t end like I thought,”
and added,
“We had speed in our car. So, it’s just an unfortunate way things go sometimes.”
Blaney Recognizes Van Gisbergen’s Exceptional Performance on Road Courses
While Blaney had little positive to share about his own race finish, he praised Shane van Gisbergen, who secured his second consecutive win on a road or street course and his third win overall this season. Blaney noted van Gisbergen’s smooth driving style and ability to maintain fast lap times while conserving tires as key strengths.
He explained,
“He’s really good at these places,”
describing van Gisbergen’s approach as both fast and controlled. He continued,
“I mean, he’s just put on a clinic on these road courses. The last three, Mexico, Chicago and here, he has really dominated. Honestly, all three of those. He’s just really technical in how he does it and his approach to it. He’s just a really solid race car driver and we’re all going to have to get a lot better at these places to have a chance.”
Implications of the Sonoma Incident and Looking Ahead
The collision between Blaney and Buescher at Sonoma Raceway not only cut short a promising day for Blaney but also highlighted the challenges drivers face on demanding road courses. Blaney’s acknowledgment of being an “innocent bystander” reflects the unpredictable nature of racing incidents, especially on tight and technical tracks. As the season continues, Blaney will aim to rebound from recent difficulties to improve his standing, while competitors like van Gisbergen set a high bar with consistent road course mastery, raising the competitive standard for all drivers involved.
