Ryan Blaney's pit crew has struggled in the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series, facing issues like loose wheels and slow stops. Despite these challenges, crew chief Jonathan Hassler remains optimistic about their potential after a decent performance at Bristol Motor Speedway.
Ryan Blaney's issues on pit road have been well documented during the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season. Whether it is loose wheels or slow stops, Blaney's pit crew has ranked as one of the worst in NASCAR to start the new campaign. Despite the struggles on Sunday at Bristol Motor Speedway, the No. 12 crew did keep Blaney in the lead during the money stops.
Following the race, Blaney's crew chief Jonathan Hassler spoke to NASCAR.com about the performance of the No. 12 pit crew. After all of its struggles, Hassler kept his optimism, putting trust in his pit crew.
“I think they did a great job,” Hassler told NASCAR.com. “We had a couple mistakes again, but they stuck with it. All of those guys are capable and we’ve stuck with them, and when everything was on the line the most, they followed through. The guys have a lot of potential. They have the ability. We’ve had some bumps in the road, some of which isn’t necessarily those guys or any one person; just kind of getting the whole group and the car and the team kind of in sync.”
It has been a disastrous start to the 2026 NASCAR season for the No. 12 pit crew, and it is fair to wonder whether Blaney would have more than one win with better performances. However, Hassler believes they did a great job at Bristol, and maybe, there will be improvements moving forward.
More: Watch Chase Elliott's onboard during self spin on final lap at Bristol
This article originally appeared on Motorsports Wire: Ryan Blaney's crew chief provides honest take on the No. 12 pit crew
Ryan Blaney's pit crew has encountered issues such as loose wheels and slow pit stops, ranking among the worst in NASCAR.
Jonathan Hassler acknowledged the crew's mistakes but praised their ability to perform under pressure, stating they did a great job during critical moments.
Yes, it is suggested that Blaney might have secured more than one win if his pit crew had performed better during the season.
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