Ryan Blaney points to Chase Elliott for answers after last-lap contact ruins their day

After the race, Ryan Blaney was asked about the contact. Blaney told Jeff Gluck to “Ask the 9.”

Chase Elliott slid up the track looking back at the replay. He couldn’t hold the car down and got loose. Contact with the left front of Blaney and it cost both of them.

These two are friends off the track. So, I’m sure that they will talk about it and move on as they head to Daytona and Darlington. Both drivers are focused on doing what they have to do before the playoffs. For Blaney, it’s picking up as many playoff points as possible.

For Elliott, it’s about clinching the regular season championship. He is 10 points behind Reddick now. Had he finished P5 instead of P15, this is a tie race for the regular season. Now, Reddick has an advantage with two races to go.

Ryan Blaney and Chase Elliott miss out on valuable points

Every point at this time in the season matters. Both Ryan Blaney and Chase Elliott know that. While racing hard in overtime, these two talented drivers had a racing incident. Neither will be happy about it, but it is what it is.

I think that Blaney will get over it mostly because this hurts Elliott more. Blaney is 82 points out of the regular season lead. That is just too much to make up at this point in the season. Only four drivers have a shot at it at this point.

Tyler Reddick now leads the points standings. Chase Elliott follows 10 points down. Then we have Denny Hamlin who is 28 points out. Finally, Kyle Larson, who wrecked out of the race today, is 32 points back after entering the weekend +5 as the leader.

Ryan Blaney is still in a tight battle for fifth overall. William Byron is four points behind him and Christopher Bell is 29 points away. Every extra position in the playoffs helps. A top-5 starting position can save you from a catastrophic Round of 16.