Ryan Blaney entered the Homestead-Miami race to make a turnaround after two back-to-back DNFs. The Team Penske driver was in control as he had a rocket ship of a car. In his No. 12 Ford Mustang, he led 124 of the 267 laps. After winning the opening stage and battling near the front for most of the race, he looked poised for a strong finish. But then, in an instant, everything fell apart.
With just 60 laps to go, a massive plume of white smoke erupted from his car. Blaney, who was running third behind Kyle Larson and Bubba Wallace, could do nothing but watch as his day came to an abrupt end. Frustrated but not defeated, Blaney knew he had just lost a race he could have won. “I didn’t have any warning,” Blaney said after the race.
Notably, this wasn’t just another frustrating day. It was the second time in three races that an engine failure had sidelined Blaney. Before that, a crash at Las Vegas added to his woes, marking his third straight DNF. The 2023 Cup Series champion found himself in a slump, one that raised serious questions about Team Penske’s reliability. But now, ahead of the race at Martinsville, Blaney has addressed the issue.
Ryan Blaney and Team Penske left searching for answers
Roger Penske and Co. was stunned after Homestead. Engine failures are rare in modern NASCAR, yet Blaney had suffered two in just three weeks. The organization immediately launched an investigation. The uncertainty was unsettling, especially for a driver in the thick of the championship battle. Now, as the NASCAR caravan reaches Martinsville for its first short track race, Blaney dismissed any notion that his driving was to blame for the bizarre streak of engine failures.
Speaking to the media, he also pointed out that both engines’ failures were caused by different issues. “We believe there were separate issues from Phoenix and Homestead. They’re working hard on trying to figure out why this issue at Homestead happened. We knew why the one at Phoenix happened… Hopefully, we’ve taken the correct procedures to make sure it doesn’t happen again,” he told the media.
Ryan Blaney on having engine issues at Phoenix and Homestead, how Roush Yates Engines (RYE) and Penske believe they are separate issues and whether he has to change anything behind the wheel: @NASCARONFOX pic.twitter.com/wsui2bnMxJ
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) March 29, 2025
Notably, the back-to-back failures have hurt his standings. Ryan Blaney, who started the season strong, has slipped to 10th in points. Despite leading 147 laps this year, he has little to show for it. His two stage wins and 69 stage points have kept him afloat, but without consistent finishes, his championship hopes could be in jeopardy. Moreover, his struggles have also raised alarms within Team Penske.
Reigning Cup Series champion and Blaney’s teammate Joey Logano admitted that the situation is concerning. “It causes concern, there’s no doubt. It’s like solving a mystery. That one [at Homestead] blew up pretty big, obviously. So, there’s a lot of parts… The key is figuring out what it was and making sure it doesn’t happen again,” Logano told NASCAR SiriusXM Radio.
Notably, Blaney’s performance has mirrored Team Penske’s overall struggles. While he, Logano, and Austin Cindric have led a combined 554 laps this season, none of them have consistently converted speed into strong finishes. Logano sits 11th in points with an average finish of 18.8, while Cindric is 21st. Blaney’s 21.5 average finish is the worst among the trio, largely due to his DNFs.
However, despite the chaos, Blaney remains confident in his team. “It’s just unfortunate. You know, two out of three weeks, we have an issue there. But, you know, those folks work hard. I hadn’t had an engine failure in a long time, so it’s not like it’s common with those folks. Just one of those things that’s a bummer. But yeah, I think we have a really good idea of what went wrong, and they’re doing all they can to figure out how to make sure it doesn’t happen again,” he added. Additionally, the 2023 Cup Series champion also spoke about his state of mind.
Blaney stays mentally strong despite rough stretches
Ryan Blaney has never been one to exude overwhelming confidence. He’s not the kind of driver who boasts or guarantees victories. But one thing he doesn’t do? Let doubt consume him. “I’m not really like—I don’t ooze confidence. I’ve just never been that person. So, I try to just, you know, not let doubt get to me,” Blaney admitted on The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz.
Instead of dwelling on what went wrong, Blaney focuses on learning from mistakes and moving forward. “As a driver, if you make a mistake, I try to learn from it right away. I don’t think you try to let doubt creep into your mind like, ‘Oh, I don’t know if I can still do this.’ That’s not a good way to think,” he added. Notably, his belief in his team remains strong. Even with the disappointing results, he trusts that Penske will fix the mechanical issues.
Statistically, this season has been rough compared to last year. By this point in 2024, Blaney already had three top-five finishes, including a runner-up at Atlanta. This year, his best result is P4 at the same track, with his next-best finish being P7 at Daytona. But even as the results have dipped, his faith hasn’t wavered. Perhaps that’s why Blaney remains optimistic heading into Martinsville.
The short track has been one of his best venues. He has won the last two fall races there and has an average finish of 3.5 in the Next Gen era. If there’s ever a time to bounce back, it’s now. Blaney knows that his current slump isn’t a reflection of his ability. It’s a stretch of bad luck and mechanical failures. He has proven time and again that he can compete at the highest level. Now, he just needs a clean race—and a little bit of luck—to remind everyone of that.
The post Ryan Blaney Dismisses Self-Inflicted Failure as He Breaks the Silence on Baffling Cup Series Misery appeared first on EssentiallySports.