NASCAR’s decision stirred controversy during the weekend race at Watkins Glen, with Dale Earnhardt Jr. joining those criticizing the contentious call against Ryan Blaney, the defending NASCAR Cup Series champion.
The incident occurred on Sunday when Blaney, a fan-favorite, was disqualified after a Lap 1 wreck left his car incapacitated.
Blaney expressed his frustration, questioning the officials’ refusal to allow him to attempt repairs on his car.
Give us a chance to fix it. How are they going to decide if we’re done or not? They don’t know the extent of the damage. They said because I couldn’t drive it back to the pit box, we’re done. But if you have four flats, you get towed back to the pit box. You can’t drive it back.
“So, I don’t know why they won’t give us a shot to work on it, but I don’t agree with it.”
Dale Earnhardt Jr., now a commentator and retired from active racing, weighed in on social media.
“With the current rule, there’s no need for elaborate ‘crash carts’ and haulers overloaded with parts and pieces. I do think there’s a middle ground,” he said. “The clock has teams rushing repairs and sending cars back on track in need of more repairs.”
The rule mandates that any car unable to drive back to the pit box is retired to the garage, effectively ending its race. Created with safety in mind, the policy has been praised for its caution but criticized for its strictness.
Blaney’s frustration was clear as he recounted the crash that led to his early exit.
“I don’t even know what happened. We stacked up, I hit someone on the left front, and it completely broke the steering arm. I don’t know if we could have fixed it, but that’s the frustrating part. They don’t give us a chance. They just end our day without letting us check the damage before sending us to the garage? That stinks.”
The incident has sparked discussions about changing regulations. FOX Sports journalist Bob Pockrass suggested revisiting the DVP, proposing a rule change that might allow teams a fair chance to attempt repairs while maintaining safety standards.
Despite the crash, Blaney’s strong points cushion heading into Bristol keeps his chances of advancing to the Round of 12 intact, though the incident casts a shadow over his progress.
The bigger question now for NASCAR is whether their current regulations strike the right balance between safety and fair competition.
“These hurried repairs cause their own debris cautions as well,” Earnhardt Jr. noted.
