In the 2024 Talladega playoff race, Blaney’s day ended in ugly fashion. He was wrecked out toward the end of Stage 2, as he got spun after a bump from Alex Bowman, which sent his No. 12 car into the SAFER barrier. Blaney even radioed in a sharp “thank the 48 (Bowman)” after the hit, showing how personal these collisions feel.

Before the crash, he’d been running toward the front, working with teammate Austin Cindric, navigating multi-wide traffic without incident. But late in Stage 2, the pack closed in, lanes compressed, and one misstep or one aggressive move was enough to wreck his race. It’s a harsh reminder that at superspeedways, even strong runs can unravel in a blink.

Now, Blaney is laying it bare, hating the biggest thorn in these beasts: the fuel-saving chess that turns draftin

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