
via Getty
DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 09: Ryan Blaney, driver of the #12 Menards/Peak Ford, stands on the grid during qualifying for the NASCAR Cup Series 62nd Annual Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 09, 2020 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

via Getty
DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 09: Ryan Blaney, driver of the #12 Menards/Peak Ford, stands on the grid during qualifying for the NASCAR Cup Series 62nd Annual Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 09, 2020 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
The short nature of the track at the LA Memorial Coliseum meant there was hardly anyone inside the NASCAR community who hadn’t predicted wrecks, contacts, and racing incidents at the Busch Clash. But not many would’ve predicted that a driver would get so mad that they’d throw their HANS device at a fellow driver. Enter Ryan Blaney.
Blaney, who was more or less wrecked by Erik Jones, couldn’t contain his frustration after his race ended. He got out of his car and threw his HANS device onto the No.43 in anger.
But the footage of him actually throwing it was missed by everyone, from broadcasters to fans.
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However, in a video captured by a fan that recently surfaced, Blaney could be seen moments before he made his frustration clear as he “gracefully” jumped over some tires.
She missed the actual HANS throw (as did everyone, apparently), but @Stellarnarious did capture the image of @blaney hopping over tires with the grace of a gazelle. https://t.co/GSQKVUY4AV
— Jeff Gluck (@jeff_gluck) February 7, 2022
And moments after he threw his HANS device, Blaney was interviewed as he confessed, “I was mad.”
“He wants to destroy me for seventh, don’t really make no sense. So, I don’t really know, just kind of riding around, I run in the back of you and kill your car.”
A lot of hard work undone probably the reason why Ryan Blaney was so mad
In an interview leading to the Clash, Blaney revealed just how much work his team put into the car to make it ready for the Coliseum.
“We came in and put tons of wedge in it and changed the right front spring and rear springs. There is a lot of adjustability in these cars with rear and front bar and stiffness on the arms on them—you can change a lot,” he said.“We did a good job of getting on top of it and taking a huge swing at it.”
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“We were so far off. The adjustability on these cars is a lot though … It’s nice to have so many options where you can tweak on things.”

USA Today via Reuters
Sep 26, 2021; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Ryan Blaney (12) leads driver Kyle Larson (5) during the South Point 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
That’s probably why Ryan Blaney, who doesn’t seem to lose his cool often, was infuriated at the Coliseum. And who can blame him?
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Anybody would be mad if days of hard work just went out the window because of someone else. But looking ahead at the Daytona 500, fans and his team would hope Ryan Blaney cools off as the long season ahead picks up the steam.
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