Photo Credit: Ed Coombs/SpeedwayMedia.com
Ryan Blaney took the lead early in the Food City 500 and appeared to have the car to beat. Blaney’s No. 12 Ford Fusion looked extremely strong and led 99 laps in Stage 1 until Trevor Bayne slid up the track in to the path of the No. 37 of Chris Buescher. A move that ignited a multi-car crash that took out leader, Blaney, in the closing laps of the stage.
“I didn’t really see it happen. I was so close to the car in front of me, when my spotter said wrecking, I couldn’t even see it happening ’til they were coming up the track and I was at the top of the racetrack….”, a disappointed Blaney told Fox Sports after the crash.
The young Penske Racing driver came into the Food City 500 third in the points standings with five top-tens in the first seven races.
