Ryan Blaney, fresh off a victory at New Hampshire, suffered a major setback during practice for the Kansas race by crashing his car, highlighting concerns for Team Penske about tire pressures and reliability. The Ryan Blaney Kansas practice crash has raised alarms within the team, especially as other drivers experienced related issues, putting the focus on Team Penske’s strategy and readiness going into a critical stage of the NASCAR Playoffs.
Blaney’s Crash Shakes Up Team Penske’s Kansas Preparation
After a triumph the previous week, Ryan Blaney found himself in trouble during practice at Kansas Speedway, making hard contact with the wall following a left rear tire failure. The aggressive tire pressure settings on Blaney’s No. 12 car appear to have played a role in the incident, as his car lost the tire and scraped against the wall before coming to a halt. The team now faces the prospect of repairing the damaged vehicle or switching to a backup for the race weekend.
Joey Logano, another Team Penske driver, faced difficulties of his own during the same session, though he managed to avoid a collision. These practice developments underscore the pressure the team faces in setting up their cars for Kansas, a track where they have historically been strong contenders. Still, the recurring tire problems are now a central issue for their race strategy and performance outlook.
“Trouble for @Blaney in practice! pic.twitter.com/jFVdKRBmkl”—NASCAR, Official NASCAR Account
Tire Troubles and Team Dynamics Signal Deeper Issues
Mechanical setbacks for Team Penske at Kansas are drawing greater scrutiny, as Blaney and Logano were both affected by tire-related mishaps. The frequency of these issues points to a broader setup challenge that the crew must resolve before the race. Kansas Speedway demands precise car setups, and with the postseason stakes so high, being off-target with tire pressures is something the team can ill-afford.
Ryan Blaney’s crash, while dramatic, leaves him physically unharmed and still able to compete. Starting from the rear of the field due to the damage sustained may relieve some competitive pressure, as Blaney has already secured advancement by virtue of his recent win. Any gain during the race will be viewed as a bonus, shifting his focus from desperation to seizing opportunities as they come.
Penske’s Playoff Position and Pressure
Despite Blaney’s setback, Team Penske must now reckon with uncertainty for its other drivers, such as Austin Cindric, who heads into qualifying with concerns about tire reliability and car stability. For both Cindric and Logano, their performance in qualifying will be critical as tire security could determine whether they are competitive over the weekend or face an early end to their playoff hopes.
In the playoff environment, every race offers a chance to secure advancement or risk falling behind and entering future rounds at a significant disadvantage. No team wants to approach the next elimination in an unfavorable position, particularly with the road course at the Roval looming ahead—a track where margin for error narrows considerably.
For the drivers, particularly those who have not yet locked in their advancement, a single mishap could spell the difference between championship contention and elimination. The outcome of Kansas will weigh heavily on Team Penske’s prospects, both for this race and the impending trip to Las Vegas, and underscores the relentless pressure of the postseason.
What’s Next for Blaney and Team Penske
While Ryan Blaney was the first warning sign for Team Penske at Kansas, there is concern that problems could emerge for other team drivers during qualifying or the race itself. Tire reliability and car setup will be under the microscope as the team works to ensure its entire roster can compete at the highest level without the risk of further incidents. The attention on Kansas now stretches to the next races, where carrying forward lessons learned will be essential for surviving and advancing in the playoffs.
The Ryan Blaney Kansas practice crash may ultimately serve as a timely alert, pushing the entire Penske camp to address emerging technical issues before they escalate and threaten their playoff ambitions. The next stage of the NASCAR Playoffs will test not only the speed but also the resiliency and engineering expertise of every team, as they chase victory and avoid costly setbacks on racing’s biggest stage.
Trouble for @Blaney in practice! pic.twitter.com/jFVdKRBmkl
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) September 27, 2025
