As the NASCAR Cup Series heads into the regular season finale at Daytona, excitement surrounds the new safety feature set to debut—A-Post flaps—intended to reduce airborne crashes at high-speed tracks. Ryan Blaney NASCAR Cup Series update highlights driver reactions and expectations, with Blaney ready to see if these enhancements will have the desired effect on race safety and car performance.
Blaney Shares His Insight on New Safety Flaps
Ryan Blaney acknowledged that the development and implementation of the A-Post flaps has been in the works for quite some time, and he expressed approval that NASCAR is introducing this change now at crucial drafting tracks like Daytona.
“We’ve learned about this for a long time, when they presented it to us last year,”
—Ryan Blaney, NASCAR Cup Series Driver
Blaney reflected on the delay in the rollout of the flaps, indicating satisfaction that NASCAR took the time to ensure the feature was properly engineered.
“Would I have liked to have some laps? Yeah. I would just like to have laps at a speedway in general, like in practice, just to get your mind and your spotter in tune with the drafting side of it. I don’t think they’re going to flutter, but you never know. Big turbulence stuff, they could flutter. I have no clue. It might look like the Batmobile. I have no idea.”
—Ryan Blaney, NASCAR Cup Series Driver
Blaney emphasized that while he is curious about the real-world behavior of the flaps at speed, especially under turbulent conditions, safety remains his main focus as he considers their likely effectiveness in preventing cars from becoming airborne.
“If it helps keep the cars on the racetrack, I’m all for it. They get into these situations like [Ryan] Preece and Josh Berry. If they can keep the car from going over, do whatever you’ve got to do.”
—Ryan Blaney, NASCAR Cup Series Driver
Background on the A-Post Flaps
The A-Post flaps, explained by reporting from Toby Christie of Sports Illustrated, are designed as a response to several notable incidents where cars have flipped at Daytona and Talladega in recent seasons. These safety devices will be secured to the cars using tethers and will be standard at superspeedway tracks including Daytona, Talladega, and Atlanta’s EchoPark Speedway. The change represents NASCAR’s ongoing efforts to mitigate the dangers of high-speed, pack-style racing and enhance driver safety without sacrificing competitive intensity.
Incidents involving drivers such as Ryan Preece and Josh Berry at these tracks intensified the call for improved safety measures, prompting engineers and officials to focus on solutions that prevent cars from leaving the ground, particularly during high-intensity incidents in the draft or after contact.
Blaney’s Season Momentum and Daytona Prospects
Ryan Blaney enters the Daytona race with significant momentum following a series of strong performances. He secured the pole position for the upcoming event, positioning himself well not just for a successful result at Daytona, but also as he heads into the playoffs. Earlier in the season, Blaney clinched his postseason berth with a victory at the Nashville race, showcasing his consistency as the reigning 2023 NASCAR Cup Series champion.
Blaney’s recent run includes five consecutive top-10 finishes, an indicator of form as the stakes rise. Last Saturday’s third-place result at Richmond marked his best-ever finish at that track, suggesting improvements in both driver adaptability and team strategy.
“By far the most fun I’ve ever had at this place,”
—Ryan Blaney, NASCAR Cup Series Driver
“I always look at different ways to get around here every time I come back. I don’t think it’s a secret. I struggle really bad here. We work really hard to try to figure out how can we improve, like how can I improve, how can we work on the car to figure out what will mesh. Just a big effort by all the 12 boys, big group effort.”
—Ryan Blaney, NASCAR Cup Series Driver
This positive trend reflects the collective efforts of his team and crew, fostering confidence ahead of one of the season’s most unpredictable and important races.
Looking Ahead: Potential Impact at Daytona and Beyond
The introduction of the A-Post flaps at Daytona is set to be a major storyline, with drivers, teams, and fans focused on how the new safety technology will perform during real race conditions. Ryan Blaney’s cautious optimism, paired with his current hot streak, positions him as a key driver to watch at Daytona and throughout the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs. The effectiveness of these flaps may influence future car design decisions and the ongoing pursuit of improved race safety across the sport’s most challenging tracks.
