Ryan Blaney has announced that he will miss two events this week after requiring medical attention in South Florida.
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The 2023 Cup Series champion, who won Sunday's season finale, posted on Instagram and said that he fell while at dinner with some family and friends. He said that he required medical attention and that he is now resting and recovering.
"I'm disappointed to miss celebrating Kyle Larson and the NASCAR Championship today and Ford's 'Proud to Honor race' tomorrow at Daytona," Blaney wrote.
"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."
Blaney did not provide further details about the fall, the injury that he sustained, or the level of medical attention required. This incident also explains an absence at the Tuesday morning's media sessions in Miami.
The Ford Racing event that he mentioned on social media is the Proud To Honor Veterans Day Classic on Wednesday, Nov. 11. This event will feature members of the Ford Racing lineup in 12 Mustang Dark Horse R's, each of which will have a military-inspired livery.
Blaney and Ben Hobson were set to represent the United States Marine Corps. with their Dark Horse R's while taking part in the 15-minute qualifying session and the 30-minute race around the Daytona International Speedway road course.
The veteran Cup Series driver will have plenty of time to recover from the injury. He does not have to be back in the race car until February 2027 and the start of Speedweeks at Daytona International Speedway.
The first race will take place on Saturday, Feb. 13, 2027. The drivers will compete in the Clash at Daytona the night before Super Bowl 61. They will then spend the following week taking part in qualifying, the Duel Races, and the Daytona 500 crown jewel race.
Blaney plans to be in the No. 12 Team Penske Ford Mustang SC as the new stock car makes its debut on the Cup Series circuit. He just first has to recover.
