Ryan Blaney secured a remarkable Clash podium finish Wednesday, navigating relentless sleet, repeated incidents, and unpredictable track conditions to claim third place in the Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium. The exhibition event was marked by a record number of cautions and forced drivers and teams to adapt on the fly, especially as the 2023 Cup Series champion moved through the pack multiple times in dramatic fashion.
A Turbulent Race Night Unfolds
For the third consecutive year, Blaney started at the back of the field in the preseason Clash. Unlike past editions, this race was shaped by a historic snowstorm in North Carolina, pushing the event to midweek and creating rare weather challenges on the tight Winston-Salem oval. Beginning in 16th place among twenty-three drivers, Blaney worked swiftly through the field on dry pavement and reached the top five by the scheduled mid-race break.
Chaos ensued as freezing precipitation drenched the track, pausing the competition and forcing drivers to switch to Goodyear’s wet-weather tires. After the restart, Blaney’s clash with the conditions was evident. He found himself caught in two separate on-track incidents, slipping to 17th and believing a top finish was out of reach. Reflecting on the conditions, Blaney admitted,
“I wasn’t good in the wet at all,”
Ryan Blaney, Cup Series champion. He continued,
“I was kind of nervous. I thought my car was unbelievable in the dry. Got to fourth there at the break. My car kept some tire in it a little bit better than the other guys that were really good in the wet,”
Ryan Blaney, Cup Series champion.
Adapting and Pushing Forward
Despite setbacks, Blaney capitalized on the race’s 17 caution periods—the most ever in Clash history—methodically advancing through the field as others faltered. His night was a cycle of setbacks and comebacks, as he described,
“Coming from mid-pack to the front to the back to the front again is a crazy night,”
Ryan Blaney, Cup Series champion.
The event provided a unique test for every driver, with neither teams nor officials ever facing active sleet during a NASCAR race. The unpredictable wet-dry mix forced competitors to guess which lane might hold the best grip and strategize accordingly.
“It’s pretty neat working through it,”
Ryan Blaney, Cup Series champion. Blaney recounted his thought process during the cautions and restarts,
“As a driver, you’re just guessing, right? You’re guessing to your best thoughts or what you think is going to be good, of how hard can I charge it, how fast can I roll? Race-car drivers, we always adapt. That stuff’s pretty neat to do when we’re thrown into that stuff. It’s pretty cool,”
Ryan Blaney, Cup Series champion.
Battling Until the Finish Line
As the closing laps approached, Ryan Preece managed to forge ahead unchallenged for the win, finishing 1.752 seconds clear of the field. Behind him, Blaney dueled William Byron for the runner-up spot, with Byron narrowly edging out Blaney, who secured third in the high-stakes preseason race. For Blaney, the Clash podium finish marked his continued ability to thrive in difficult circumstances, following prior podiums in both Los Angeles and at Bowman Gray the past two years.
Discussing the return to racing, Blaney remarked,
“It’s just nice to get back in the car,”
Ryan Blaney, Cup Series champion. He expanded on his preparation,
“Like, I haven’t been in a race car since Phoenix (in November). I didn’t have any tests or anything this winter. It was just nice to get back in the swing of things. You work with your guys through the week and in the winter, but nothing is better than working with them at the race track, kind of getting that camaraderie back, the communication side down, just getting back to what you’re used to,”
Ryan Blaney, Cup Series champion.
Looking Toward Daytona and the Season Ahead
With the Clash behind him, Blaney shifts his focus to the upcoming Daytona 500, scheduled for February 15. Blaney recognized that victory in the season’s opening race would mean overcoming strong rivals like William Byron, who has claimed the last two Daytona 500 victories. Displaying both competitive fire and camaraderie, Blaney stated,
“Looking forward to going down there to Daytona. Try to see if we can make William not win one,”
Ryan Blaney, Cup Series champion, and added,
“Yeah, I look forward to it,”
Ryan Blaney, Cup Series champion.
William Byron responded lightheartedly, “You’re pretty good there,” William Byron, NASCAR driver, acknowledging Blaney’s capabilities at Daytona, where Blaney is a two-time summer race winner and consistent front-runner. Blaney kept the banter going,
“You won the last two. Shut up,”
Ryan Blaney, Cup Series champion, demonstrating his competitive nature and rapport with his peers as anticipation builds for NASCAR’s grandest stage.
Blaney’s resilient performance at the Clash, overcoming harsh weather, repeated setbacks, and a turbulent race, reflects not only his skill but also the tenacity required of all race-car drivers when faced with extreme unpredictability. Fans and teams alike can expect this intensity to carry into Daytona, where Blaney will once again vie for the sport’s most coveted trophy against the likes of Byron, Preece, and NASCAR’s other top contenders.
