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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. Blaney was one of…
NASCAR’s Brad Moran clarified that the decision to tow Ryan Blaney back to the garage and declare him out of the race at Watkins Glen was in accordance with the rules. Blaney was involved in a first-lap crash that left his Ford Mustang with mechanical damage, making it impossible for him to continue. Despite Blaney’s complaints about allowing the team to diagnose the vehicle, NASCAR’s damaged vehicle policy introduced in 2017 dictates that cars involved in on-track incidents and towed back to the garage cannot return to the race. Cup Series teams have seven minutes on the damaged vehicle policy clock to attempt repairs, but if a car has to be towed back, it is considered out of the race. Moran emphasized that this rule is in place to maintain efficiency and safety on the track, and that Blaney’s situation was consistent with the policy. Blaney later admitted that he was not aware of the rule before, but after reviewing the rule book, he acknowledged that NASCAR acted within the guidelines and he now understands the decision.
