Ryan Blaney, fresh off his NASCAR Cup Series win last weekend at New Hampshire, will begin Sunday’s race from the back of the pack at Kansas Speedway after a tire blew out during Saturday’s practice session. Due to the crash, Blaney’s team will switch to a backup car for the upcoming race.
Details Surrounding the Practice Incident and Reaction
The incident occurred when Blaney’s No. 12 Menards/Richmond Ford Mustang Dark Horse suffered a sudden tire failure. Reflecting on the crash, Blaney said,
“We blew a tire, so we’ll have to look at it and see why that was. I hate that we crashed a race car and stuff like that, but we’ll take a peek at what we need to do differently and hopefully come from the back tomorrow. I’m looking forward to getting the race going tomorrow.”
His remarks highlight the team’s determination to recover despite the setback.
Unexpected Tire Failure Caught Driver Off Guard
Blaney explained that the tire blowout happened without warning, making it difficult to anticipate.
“Not really. I wouldn’t say I really had any feel of something kind of off until right before it went, honestly. It kind of had that normal feeling to it until it blew. That’s kind of the hard thing about when you blow tires like that. They don’t feel way off and then they just kind of give out the next moment, so I didn’t have any kind of caution beforehand. It’s just unfortunate. I hate that we’ve got to get a backup out and do all that deal, but we’ll fight through it. Like I said, I’m just looking to getting out there tomorrow and see what we’ve got,”
he added. This unexpected failure forced a swift adjustment in strategy for the race day.
Team Prepares for a Challenging Race at Kansas Speedway
Despite the frustration and anxiety from the practice crash, Blaney and his team remain focused on delivering a strong performance using the backup car. Coming off a recent victory at New Hampshire, this sudden challenge underlines the unpredictable nature of NASCAR racing and the resilience required by drivers and teams. Ford Racing and Menards continue to support Blaney’s efforts as he aims to climb through the field during Sunday’s race at Kansas Speedway.
