Three Decades After His Retirement, Dale Inman Reveals Chaining Down Richard Petty Amidst Ryan Blaney’s Emotional Slip-Up
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Ryan Blaney, known for his unique stance on post-race celebrations, recently shed light on why he refrains from the customary burnouts. The revelation took the racing community by surprise. But it also sparked a conversation between two legendary figures, Richard Petty and his former crew chief, Dale Inman.
When Ryan Blaney secured a thrilling victory at Talladega, the race concluded with an unexpected twist. Instead of remaining true to his tradition, Blaney let out some smoke from his rubber. This left fans and reporters curious about the reasons behind his unconventional choice. In the post-race interviews, Blaney was asked why he avoids burning his rubber on the track. And he simply told the story of Dale Inman. Inman, who was Richard Petty’s old crew chief, once taught him not to hurt his car, as a jockey would never hurt his horse.
Dale Inman says he would have tamed Richard Petty as he did Ryan Blaney
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Upon hearing Ryan Blaney’s revelation about Dale Inman’s influence on his no-burnout policy, Richard Petty couldn’t help but seek clarification from his old crew chief. Petty, who boasts a storied racing career, was intrigued by the notion that Inman might have influenced the Team Penske driver’s approach to post-victory celebrations.
Petty said, “He [Ryan Blaney] came back and said something about what you had told everybody.” Inman’s response was straightforward and laced with humor. The latter assured Petty that if, during their time together, Petty had ever indulged in burnouts after a win, he would have received some serious talks. Dale further assured, “I know one thing: if you won a bunch of races and if you’d done burnouts, me and you would have had some talks.“
Q1: What were your thoughts about @Blaney ’s comment about doing burnouts after winning a race?
Question via Facebook user, James Piccarreto
You can have Richard Petty & Dale Inman answer your question by replying to our social media posts after every race. pic.twitter.com/36onWlqeNT
— Richard Petty (@therichardpetty) October 5, 2023
“I think my brother would have had some thoughts too when they open engines wide open and drop the clutch on their things,” Petty said, “I was gonna bring that up too,” revealed Inman. “But you might have done one. But I just made a comment to Ryan one time, you know. I think he had done one, and I said gah-lee have you ever seen a jockey win the Kentucky Derby jump off and beat the stuffing out of his horse? You know, and I think he took it to heart. In his statement he did a somewhat burnout, he said. He just got caught up in the emotions, so that’s just another story for another event”,
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While Ryan Blaney’s unique stance on burnouts has garnered attention, it’s worth revisiting a pivotal moment from his career, one that involved a stroke of luck and a chaotic race at the Charlotte Roval.
As we head to Charlotte, can Blaney repeat his heroics of the race?
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Back in 2018, NASCAR ventured into the uncharted territory of the Roval. A blend of oval and road course racing In the final lap of that chaotic race, Martin Truex Jr. and Jimmie Johnson were locked in a fierce battle for the win. However, a sudden twist of fate saw Johnson spin out, triggering a chain reaction that ultimately led to Truex Jr. hitting the wall.
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Amidst the chaos, Ryan Blaney seized the opportunity, overtaking the wrecked leaders to claim an unexpected victory. This turn of events marked not only Blaney’s triumph but also dashed Jimmie Johnson’s playoff chances significantly. Blaney’s Roval victory serves as a testament to the unpredictable nature of NASCAR and the resilience of its drivers. It’s a reminder that in this sport, fortunes can change in an instant, and unexpected heroes can emerge from the chaos.
As Ryan Blaney continues to make his mark in NASCAR, both on and off the track, his unique approach to victory celebrations and the wisdom imparted by the likes of Dale Inman and Richard Petty add layers to the rich tapestry of this enduring sport.
The first NASCAR Cup Series race on the Charlotte ROVAL ended in absolute CHAOS.
NBC Sports | @BankofAmerica pic.twitter.com/Ciykw9hJZJ
— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) October 2, 2023
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Do you think Ryan Blaney can win two in a row? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.
Edited by:
Shivali Nathta