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Watch: 'A difficult thing to go through,' Ryan Blaney breaks silence on parting ways with his Spotter straight after 2023 Cup triumph

Originally posted on FirstSportz | By Justin P Joy | Last updated 1/27/24

Soon after the 2023 NASCAR Awards, it was announced that Josh Williams, the long-time spotter of Ryan Blaney will leave the team ahead of the 2024 season. It was a big surprise, considering they had just won the championship together. Willaims has joined as the spotter for Zane Smith, who is loaned from Trackhouse Racing at Spire Motorsports.

Willaims and Blaney worked nine years together in the NASCAR Cup series. They won ten Cup races together from 306 starts they made, with the most important ones being the three triumphs in 2023 on the way to the title win. Going into the 2024 season, Blaney has a new spotter in Tim Fedewa and is in for a difficult transition.

Cup champion Ryan Blaney will have a new spotter in 2024 as Josh Williams goes to Spire to spot for Zane Smith (they worked together in trucks). Tim Fedewa, a former racer and Kevin Harvick’s spotter, will spot for Blaney this year. pic.twitter.com/3d5O2dkBF1
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) January 26, 2024

While talking about Willaims’s exit during the NASCAR production days, Blaney admitted that is a difficult thing to go through. Hearing a different vice in his ear after nine years during the race will be a big change for him. He went on to wish him the best for the next chapter in life with Spire Motorsports.

Yeah, it is definitely a difficult thing to go through. Josh and I worked together for nine years, so kind of hearing a little bit different voice in your ear throughout these races is definitely a big change. But he and I, we had a great nine years together, obviously won a lot of races, won championship together, so best luck to him in his next chapter. Blaney told Fox Sports.

Ryan Blaney is fortunate to have Tom Fedewa as the new spotter

Blaney is going to have a seasoned veteran racer as his spotter for 2024. The 56-year-old Tim Fedewa has previously raced in all three national NASCAR series, including a single NASCAR Cup start. From 333 races in the Xfinity Series in 14 years, Fedewa has won four races, and he has previously worked with Kevin Harvick as a spotter at SHR.

While discussing having Fedewa as his spotter, Blaney admitted that he finds himself fortunate. He pointed out that Fedewa has been a racer he has respected for a long time and someone who brings a lot to the table with his experience as a proven race winner. They have already worked together during the Phoniex test and working on the team dynamic going into the 2024 season.

But Tim Fedewa, I'm really excited to work with. I've respected Timmy for a long time. Obviously a great racer, won a lot of races with Kevin, and I was really fortunate that when I was looking for a spotter that he was going to be available, and it was great to work together with him at the Phoenix test.