NASCAR explains Ryan Blaney's DNF at Watkins Glen

Today at 09:39 AM

NASCAR‘s Brad Moran has explained that officials followed its rule when towing Ryan Blaney back to the garage at Watkins Glen and declaring the Team Penske driver out of the race.

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"If you‘re in an incident and on the DVP and you cannot drive the vehicle back to your pit stall, then you are out of the race at that point," said Moran, the Cup Series managing director, on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. "If you drive it into the garage or behind the wall, at that point, you‘re out of the race and have to go to the care center. It‘s a variety of reasons; there were efficiencies and safety. But all of the industry and collaboration put this together in 2017.

"It was very unfortunate. I totally get Blaney‘s frustration, but he was involved in the incident with [Brad Keselowski], which did end up busting the front suspension or steering, and that would be consistent with what we‘ve been doing since 2017."

Blaney also referred to cars towed back to pit road with flat tires and not taken out of the race. Moran acknowledged that is an issue with the Next Gen car that NASCAR has had to work to address, but it is not the same as a damaged vehicle.

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Blaney has since admitted — also on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio — that he didn‘t know the rule before giving his television interview. Since then, Blaney has looked over the rule book and said NASCAR did everything by the rule and that he understands the situation.

— Racer —