Dale Earnhardt Jr. expressed confusion and frustration over the Kyle Larson spins Ryan Blaney incident during the NASCAR Cup Series Playoff race at Gateway. Speaking on his Dale Jr. Download podcast, Earnhardt recounted his reaction to Larson’s aggressive move that caused Blaney to spin out mid-race.
Larson racing aggressive. What was that all about?
—Dale Earnhardt Jr.
He spins Blaney out. I’ve watched this replay, and I can’t figure it out. Came from five car links back.
—Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Earnhardt acknowledged how common such moments are in high-stakes racing but noted the difficulty drivers face balancing aggression with precision on a challenging track. He remarked on the demanding nature of competing with elite drivers while trying to pass on a circuit that limited overtaking chances.
I think it’s incredibly interesting that [Larson]’s like, ‘Man, if I can drive it down in there by mid-corner when he’s trying to throttle up, make him tight, like get the left quarter panel and really tighten his car up, then he’ll struggle on throttle and maybe I can be able to side draft down. I’ll be in a position for a side draft and position, maybe take the spot into Turn 1.’ Unfortunate that it spun Blaney around.
—Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Race Context: Larson and Blaney’s Battle at Gateway
The on-track incident occurred on lap 135 while Larson and Blaney contended for fifth place in the playoff race. Larson’s contact caused Blaney to spin but did not prevent him from rebounding to a strong fourth-place finish. Larson led the race for 52 laps but ended up finishing in 12th position.
It was frustrating, but it didn’t warrant me to get into him or anything like that,
Larson said after the race.
The first time I got to his inside, I was expecting him to not necessarily let me go and he left me room, but I ran into [Turn] 1 hard and he chased me in and I was sideways underneath him and was kind of like, ‘OK, we’re going to be racing hard for this position going forward’ — and we did. It led to me making contact with him a few laps later.
—Kyle Larson
Despite the collision, both drivers remain well positioned in the playoff standings. Larson holds a comfortable margin of 60 points above the cutoff, while Blaney sits 42 points ahead of elimination, setting the stage for a tense upcoming race at Bristol.
Looking Ahead to the Playoff Elimination Race at Bristol
With both Kyle Larson and Ryan Blaney carrying momentum but facing pressure in the playoffs, the upcoming elimination race at Bristol will be crucial. The incident at Gateway highlighted the razor-thin margins drivers must navigate by blending aggression and control. As the competition intensifies, managing such moments could determine their championship paths.
