Saturday, March 7, 2015

What Erik Jones and Ryan Blaney said about their on-track incident Saturday

  On a restart on Lap 172 of 200 in Saturday's Boyd Gaming 300 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Ryan Blaney and Erik Jones were racing in the top-five for position when Blaney appeared to get loose and got into Jones' No. 18 Toyota. 

   Jones then got loose and looked like he would save the car before it took an abrupt right and into the wall, which was not protected by SAFER barriers. 

   Here is what Jones told Fox Sports 1 after emerging from the infield care center:

   “The 22 (Blaney) just lost it. Obviously not a lot of car control on his end today. Really unfortunate to be taken out that late. Had a strong car, one that I thought could have contended with the 33 (Austin Dillon) for the win," Jones said. "Wish we could have brought them home a better finish. It doesn't take away from our day. We ran up front. Led laps. Had a fast car. The finishes will come. It's a shame that it had to end the way it did.”

   After the race, Blaney - who finished second to Dillon - immediately apologized to his crew and expressed regret for the incident.

  “Yeah, I mean it is a racing incident but you never want to see a wrecked race car and you be a part of it. I know it is a racing deal and you just hate to be in that position," he said. "That is the worst spot to be in, pinned down on the bottom and have someone right on your door. It happens but I don’t like getting into things with people and I hate to see a race car torn up. I hate to see it. I hope he knows I feel bad about it. We have to move on eventually. We will try to do that before tomorrow.”