NASCAR officials will assess Ryan Blaney’s crash at Nashville Superspeedway after his team’s Penske Ford Mustang crashed into a wall that had no SAFE barrier.
“NASCAR safety engineers are working closely with safety experts to implement barriers around the track,” the statement said. “Like after every race weekend, we will evaluate all available data and make improvements where necessary.”
Blaney crashed on lap 147 of the Ally 400 due to an accordion effect on a restart. It started on the second row with Brad Keselowski getting hit from behind as the field started.
When Keselowski was out of shape, the field took evasive maneuvers to the left and right of the RFK Racing driver. Blaney, who was sitting in the ninth row, was hit from behind by Kyle Busch and sent him into a skid.
“The guys behind me had so much power that they ran me over,” said Keselowski. “I got off to a great start and here they are. I just got run over. It was hit so hard it literally lost gear.
“They were just a lot quicker. It’s frustrating, but we still have a lot to do.”
Blaney hit the inside wall nose first. Although he admitted he needed to catch his breath from the impact, he got out of the car on his own and was discharged from the Infield Care Center.
“I don’t really know what happened,” Blaney said. “Someone checked on restart I guess and I checked and got hit from behind. I didn’t know if they were broken and just couldn’t fix it once I got out of the grass. I thought I would come around and be fine, but it just never came right and I don’t know why there isn’t a safer barrier.
“That’s pretty ridiculous to be honest – the hardest blow I’ve ever taken in my life, I’m so glad I’m okay.” It sucks for the Pennzoil Ford Mustang. It stinks going home so early.”