63 laps into the NASCAR Cup race on Sunday, leader and eventual race winner Ryan Blaney got quite the scare as Cody Ware went spinning directly in front of him. Blaney had to lock up the tires, but managed to avoid becoming collected in the incident.
A replay made it clear that Austin Dillon got into the No. 51 Rick Ware Racing Ford Mustang of Ware, sending him spinning. At the time, Ware was running in last place.
“He just used us up,” the team said over the radio.
Dillon reacts to second run-in with Ware
Over 200 laps later with just 48 laps left in the race, Ware was now running 30th after some mid-race incidents eliminated a few cars. However, Dillon was in contention for a top 15 finish. He passed Ware on the outside to lap him when the two collided for a second time.
This time, it looked suspiciously like payback. Ware was down on the bottom as Dillon approached, then moved up the track mid-corner and even hit the throttle just as he made contact with the left-rear.
But if the intention was to wreck Dillon, then the contact did the opposite. Ware spun himself around and slammed the outside wall, causing significant front-end damage. Meanwhile, a bewildered Dillon drove off without a scratch.
“What an idiot,” radioed Dillon. “Why is he out here? Does he think I tried to wreck him earlier?” As the No. 3 team discussed it, they seemed convinced that it was a failed attempt at retaliation.
In the end, he was at the epicenter of both the first and final cautions of the race. Ware didn’t say much on the radio in reference to the incident, and apologized to his team after taking the checkered flag in 31st, five laps down.
