One of the most recognizable names in NASCAR was not at the sport’s postseason awards banquet in Miami on Tuesday, Nov. 10.
Ryan Blaney, who won the final race of the season on Sunday at Homestead-Miami, said in a social media post that he “accidentally took a fall that required medical attention.” Blaney said he’s “doing okay” as of Tuesday evening, but the incident forced him to miss the awards banquet and he will also not participate in Wednesday’s race at Daytona, Ford’s inaugural “Proud To Honor Veterans Day Classic.”
Here’s the full statement from Blaney, posted to his Instagram account:
“I was out at dinner (Monday) night with my family and some friends and I accidentally took a fall that required medical attention. I am doing okay and am resting
and recovering. I’m disappointed to miss celebrating Kyle Larson and the NASCAR Championship today and Ford’s ‘Proud to Honor race’ (Wednesday) at Daytona. While I won’t be there, I’ll be supporting my teammates and fellow Ford drivers as they honor each branch of the U.S. Armed Forces on Veterans Day.”
Ford’s exhibition race at Daytona is the first of its kind, aiming to showcase the manufacturer’s top drivers while also honoring the military. USA Network will have live coverage of the race on Wednesday, Nov. 11 at 8 p.m. ET and it will feature 12 drivers paired into six teams. Each team will represent a branch of the military.
Blaney was originally paired with Formula Drift driver Ben Hobson on the team for the U.S. Marine Corps. He will be replaced by 22-year-old Robert Noaker, a two-time IMSA Mustang Challenge North America champion. Drivers will be competing in Mustang Dark Horse Rs, a car that was designed for International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) competitions.
Other drivers set to race in the event include Brad Keselowski, Joey Logano, Ryan Preece, Frankie Muniz, Layne Riggs, Austin Cindric, Noah Gragson, Ty Majeski, Joey Hand and Logan Sargeant.
Blaney, 32, has been a full-time driver in NASCAR’s top-level Cup Series since 2016. In 2023, he won the Coca-Cola 600 and the championship. He’s been with Ford’s top team in the sport, Team Penske, since 2018, notching 20 of his 21 Cup Series wins in the No. 12.
The son of former Cup Series driver Dave Blaney, Ryan also has four wins in the Truck Series and seven victories in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series. He was the Truck Series Rookie of the Year in 2013 and won the circuit’s Most Popular Driver award in 2014.
Blaney won four races this season, taking checkered flags at Phoenix, Atlanta, New Hampshire and Homestead-Miami.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Ryan Blaney misses NASCAR awards banquet, Ford race at Daytona after fall
