Denny Hamlin Asks Ryan Blaney the Question Everyone Wants Answered

Ryan Blaney doesn't really fight. He'll lose his mind on the radio, climb out of the car, and be completely calm two seconds later. So, when he handed his phone to a crew member, said "hold this," and walked across pit road toward Carson Hocevar after Bristol, everyone was caught off guard. Blaney included.

On this episode of Actions Detrimental, Denny Hamlin and Jared sit down with Blaney just days after the incident to get the real story straight from him. Blaney explains that he wasn't looking for a fight. He wanted a stern conversation. Then everything went sideways in about five seconds.

He breaks down getting hit twice in the same spot on his cheek, going to the ground, and somehow ending up right back in the middle of it. Denny and Blaney also get into the crew members who jumped in to break it up, including the horse-collar that sent Blaney down, and whether NASCAR's rule for breaking up fights needs to change.

Plus, Blaney talks about the on-track battle that started it all, where he stands in the playoffs after three rough races, and why Team Penske always seems to find another gear when the weather gets cold.

If you want to hear Blaney tell his side of the Bristol fight, this is the episode.

Watch and listen to new episodes of Actions Detrimental every Monday during the NASCAR Cup season & check us out on Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok for all the best moments from the show. . .

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Chapters:
0:00 – Welcoming Ryan Blaney to Actions Detrimental
0:34 – Addressing the Elephant in the Room
3:44 – How This Interview Came Together
5:58 – Bristol: The Strategy Call to Stay Out
10:41 – Stage 2 Gets Wild With a Late Restart
13:47 – Blaney Leads 202 Laps... Then Carson Hocevar Makes Contact
16:14 – Breaking Down the Wreck: Who Was at Fault?
21:37 – The Frustration After Climbing Out
25:23 – Blaney Walks Over to Carson
31:24 – Why Drivers See Carson Differently Than Fans
36:11 – Is Carson Hocevar Good for NASCAR?
43:23 – NASCAR's Fight Rules Debated
46:54 – How Drivers Size Up the Competition
48:31 – Playoff Standings Check-In
53:15 – What Changes on the Mile-and-a-Half Tracks?
1:00:32 – Ryan's Throwback Basketball League Photos
1:02:55 – O'Reilly's Race Recap
1:07:11 – Where the Nicknames Came From
1:09:23 – Kansas Preview & Sign-Off