NASCAR driver Ryan Blaney falls to ground multiple times post-race at Pocono Raceway track

There was an alarming moment for NASCAR fans at Pocono Raceway on Sunday, June 22, when NASCAR driver Ryan Blaney, driving the No.12 Team Penske Ford, collapsed three times after he finished 3rd in the Great American Getaway 400. Blaney was visibly struggling just moments after getting out of his car, stumbling to the ground multiple times as track medical staff tended to him.

This was later revealed to be due to a failure of his cooling suit, and he had been fighting extreme heat for the remainder of the race. Thankfully, Blaney was treated for heat exhaustion in the infield care center and released shortly after the incident.

Ryan Blaney’s cooling suit failed early in the race

In a post-race interview, Blaney said his cooling suit stopped functioning early in the race, about lap 15 of the 160-lap event. The failure produced unbearable cockpit temperatures, exceeding 120°F. “I flipped it on probably around lap 15, and I said, ‘Oh, it’s going to be a long day,’” Blaney said. He fought through it eventually to come home third on the podium.


But when the race finished, it all began to make sense when the effects of extended periods of heat exposure were noticed by the fans. When Blaney continued fainting while trying to do interviews, medical staff rushed over. He received fluids and cooling measures, then was driven in a golf cart to the care center for treatment.

NASCAR medical team acts fast as safety concerns rise

NASCAR's on-site medical team reacted quickly and professionally. Blaney's symptoms were consistent with heat exhaustion, including dizziness, cramps, and dehydration. Since NASCAR drivers do have to endure grueling heat, especially if critical equipment fails (like cooling suits), and he fell before cameras and media, the absurdity was magnified.


Team Penske reported Blaney was awake, alert, and responsive when they arrived at the care center before being released without admission to the hospital. Even so, his condition was swiftly stabilised, and his incident kicked off instant conversations about safety thresholds in such hot, extreme race-day temperatures.

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The Ryan Blaney incident has sparked a larger discussion about the potential dangers to drivers in extreme conditions, like those faced by Blaney. With temperatures in the mid-90s Fahrenheit at Pocono, it made for extreme conditions inside the race cars. Among them: Brad Keselowski, who wondered if something from last week’s Mexico City event was still affecting Blaney. Several drivers had issues with dehydration and an upset stomach in Mexico City.