Following the Brickyard 400 on Sunday, the main debate was whether or not NASCAR ought to have called off the first overtime restart when race leader Brad Keselowski ran out of fuel and went to pit road shortly before the green flag was given.
Ryan Blaney was put in control of the race after Keselowski withdrew ahead of the finish line. But because Blaney was outside, Kyle Larson, who was racing P3, was able to roll up next to him on the inside line, which was favored. With the advantage now established, Larson passed Blaney in Turn 1 to take the lead. After that, Larson won the race—his fourth of the year.
On the “Dale Jr. Download,” Dale Earnhardt Jr. stated that he didn’t think NASCAR handled the restart poorly and that he didn’t hold Keselowski accountable either.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. sounds off on controversy in Brickyard 400
Earnhardt remarked, “I really think that everything worked out the way it should have.” “Brad Keselowski is not at fault; they knew they were probably beyond and were attempting to stretch the fuel.” When they spoke with Matt McCall, the crew chief, he responded, “Hey, we’re probably going to run out, but we made our bed, so we’re going for it.” It just so happens that they are approaching the green flag when he decides to pit, as it is their right to bring their vehicle to pit road whenever they please. Brad is not at responsible for how that transpired.
Blaney is now the control vehicle and we’re going to have a green flag, according to the rules as they are stated. This doesn’t bother me in the least. I disagree that they should have a timeout, and they even stated that even if they had, I believe I heard NASCAR state that they still wouldn’t have let them re-choose. Other than giving Blaney a little extra time to gather himself and rethink his restart strategy as the lead car, it would have made no difference.
And since I’m not sure whether Larson actually knew who the control car is at that precise moment, he might have had a moment to consider not being it. Blaney was furious that NASCAR had permitted the restart to go on. Talking over the radio with his crew, Blaney charged that Larson, whom he called NASCAR’s “fu*king golden boy,” had been handed the victory.
Blaney declared, “There’s no way they should’ve let that go green.” That is absurd. They simply handed it to Larson. I’m winning, it’s fucked over. I’m not going to come out on top. Let the fu*king golden boy have it. What a b*tch son you are.
