Ryan Blaney’s disqualification from the Spherical of 16 race at Watkins Glen final Sunday led to vital backlash from the motive force. Blaney’s No. 12 Ford encountered a steering situation following a Lap 1 warning, which left him unable to return to his pit stall. Consequently, NASCAR enforced its Broken Car Coverage (DVP) and parked Blaney for the rest of the race.
The DVP, carried out in 2017, mandates that automobiles needing repairs should be pushed again to the pit stall inside a 10-minute window. If the automotive can’t be pushed again, it’s disqualified from persevering with the race. In line with Denny Hamlin, this coverage was designed as a cost-cutting measure to forestall extreme spending on crash carts and restore components, whereas additionally minimizing dangers related to in depth repairs that may result in particles on the monitor or security hazards.
Hamlin addressed the incident on the “Actions Detrimental” podcast, stating that whereas he understands Blaney’s frustration, NASCAR adhered strictly to the established guidelines. He commented:
“I imply, they glided by the foundations. I am not saying he is incorrect and NASCAR’s proper, I am simply saying they glided by the foundations. Are the foundations honest in that occasion? I am unsure. What they’re making an attempt to keep away from is that we had been spending as race groups numerous cash on crash carts, restore components.
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“We must take this stuff to the monitor. And it must have primarily a full physique parts of all of the automotive. And should carry them to the racetrack. I do know they introduced up that it is sort of unsafe, that is no matter.
“This was a cost-cutting measure as to not should drive us to should go restore the automotive. After which ship it again out on the racetrack. It might trigger a warning from particles or no matter it is likely to be.
“So, it was one of many cost-cutting issues that received introduced on years in the past. By the rule, it is the fitting factor. I imply, ought to we kneejerk response simply change it as a result of there’s an uproar? Completely not.”
Blaney’s incident stemmed from contact with Brad Keselowski on the bus cease, resulting in a steering situation that Hamlin believes would have required greater than the allowed 10-minute restore window.
“It is a distinctive state of affairs, and I do not suppose they might have gotten it fastened anyway. It appeared like this was a steering situation. And for them to repair this factor, it might have [taken] extra [time] than the restore clock as a result of he was within the incident. There was contact.
“So, it did not matter and that issues,” Hamlin mentioned. “Had he had one thing go incorrect they usually may have fastened it in two minutes, and he’d be again within the race, then there’s extra of a legit argument. However the injury he did incur was race ending.”
Blaney’s standings took successful, as he went from being 33 factors above the cutline to simply 29 factors clear post-race. The shortcoming to proceed the race and accumulate extra factors is a major setback for his playoff marketing campaign.
