Ryan Blaney is set to compete in the Daytona 500 despite experiencing ongoing discomfort from a recent crash. During his qualifying race on Thursday night, Blaney was involved in a collision with William Byron and Kyle Busch, resulting in a hard impact with the outside wall. This was the second crash Blaney has experienced at Daytona in the past six months. He expressed that he is feeling sore, particularly in his neck and back muscles, but remains mentally prepared to race. Blaney has been taking precautions to minimize further injury and will have access to a physical therapist from Team Penske if needed.
Blaney expressed frustration with the crashes at Daytona, emphasizing the need for drivers to avoid creating situations that lead to accidents. He disclosed that the impact from Thursday night’s crash registered at 55G, while a previous crash in August resulted in a 70G impact. Blaney now wears a mouthpiece that measures the impact force he experiences during crashes, providing valuable data for analysis. He believes that the hardest hit he has ever taken was at Nashville Superspeedway, where he hit an unprotected wall. Following that incident, Blaney sought medical attention and worked with a specialist in sports medicine concussion programs.
Despite enduring multiple hard hits over the past year, Blaney remains focused on his racing career and does not dwell on the potential toll it may be taking on his body. He acknowledges the risks involved in the sport and accepts them as part of the job. Blaney is determined to prioritize safety and ensure that all necessary precautions are taken to minimize the chances of injury. He remains committed to his passion for racing and is grateful for the opportunity to compete.
According to the Source racer.com