Doing a burnout following a win is something that isn't unusual in racing, and the fans typically expect it. Unless the winner is someone like Ryan Blaney.
The driver of the No. 12 Menards Ford Mustang for Team Penske captured a clutch victory in the YellaWood 500 at Talladega on Sunday.
Blaney has been known for not doing burnouts following a win. This time was a little different, as he actually sent some smoke flying into to air following the victory.
The win was his second of the season, and third at Talladega. Blaney has been more like racers of the past who preferred to do a victory lap instead of burnouts.
It was something noticeable for the media, as Blaney was later asked at his post-race press conference why he doesn't typically do burnouts. Blaney happily explained why burnouts aren't something usually in his playbook.
Ryan Blaney explains why he usually doesn't do victory burnouts. ? ? pic.twitter.com/Gig8rX5Ps0
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) October 2, 2023
"Dale Inman pulled me aside one day and said, 'Hey, you don't see the winner of the Kentucky Derby get off his horse and start beating the s**t out of it," Blaney said. "So that's why I don't do burnouts. I didn't do a burnout after one race and he said that he liked how you don't do burnouts and then he told me the story. And I was like he might be mad at me if I did one and broke our rule."
A completely understandable reason not to do a burnout. Especially if it's a race car you want to use again. Blaney sure drove his Ford Mustang like it was a derby horse. It was fast as lightning, so Blaney clearly has taken Inman's advice to heart. No wonder he is so good at Talladega and is fast becoming a crowd favorite who can win anywhere.
