The NASCAR Cup Series return to Music City turned out to be an unfortunate event for Team Penske driver Ryan Blaney. During the 400-mile-long race at the Nashville Superspeedway, Blaney was involved in a hard crash that left fans questioning NASCAR’s commitment to driver safety.

The incident, combined with NASCAR’s diplomatic response, sparked a wave of backlash from fans who demanded more proactive measures to prevent such incidents in the future.

Ryan Blaney’s Horrifying Crash at Nashville Speedway Raises Concern About Driver Safety

During a restart caused by an earlier caution, Blaney found himself caught in a chain reaction of events. As drivers checked up to avoid a collision, he was struck from behind by Kyle Busch, with both cars going into the grass. Blaney’s car took the brunt of the impact as it crashed into an unprotected wall on the inside of the track.

Thankfully, Blaney emerged uninjured from the crash but expressed his surprise and disappointment at the absence of a SAFER barrier in that area.

In an interview following the crash, Blaney said, “I don’t really know what happened. Someone checked up on the restart I guess and I got hit from behind. I just couldn’t get it straightened out. I thought I was going to come back around and I’d be okay but it just never got back right. I don’t know why there’s no SAFER barrier there, it’s pretty ridiculous, hardest hit I’ve ever had in my life so, happy to be alright.” 

In response to the incident, NASCAR issued a statement through its spokesperson, emphasizing their commitment to safety.

The statement read, “NASCAR safety engineers work closely with safety experts on the implementation of barriers around the track. As we do following every race weekend, we will evaluate all available data and make any necessary improvements.”

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‘Trying Not To Get Sued’ – Fans Bash NASCAR following statement release

After NASCAR’s diplomatic response, fans took to social media platforms to express their outrage. The absence of SAFER barriers at a track that was hosting its third race drew intense criticism from fans.

One fan’s reaction encapsulated everyone’s frustration as they tweeted, “Translation: We’re going to keep taking the cheapest route UNTIL we’re exposed on Live TV with a nasty looking or actually injury-causing collision with a naked wall in our ‘Top 3 Series’ of NASCAR.”

Another fan echoed this sentiment, stating, “Unacceptable that all walls don’t already have them. It’s 2023, and there’s absolutely no reason if they actually cared about safety over $$. They should be proactive, not reactive.”

Fans also pointed out that this was not the first time the issue of unprotected walls had been raised. They expressed disappointment in NASCAR’s track safety protocols, claiming that improvements were rarely made until a serious incident occurred.

One fan asked, “3rd race here and it’s getting addressed after a crash? How are safer barrier walls not mandated at every track, all walls?” while another sarcastically added, “Just trying not to get sued.” 

The incident serves as a reminder that driver safety should always be a top priority for NASCAR, with fans demanding the mandatory installation of SAFER barriers at all tracks. As the sport continues to evolve, it is essential for NASCAR to listen to fan concerns and take steps to prevent similar incidents in the future.

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