Ryan Blaney's pit crew faces major change ahead of NASCAR Cup Race at Chicago

Ryan Blaney is gearing up to tackle the Chicago Streets this weekend, but he'll be doing so without his main spotter, Tim Fedewa. Due to a recent medical procedure, Fedewa will sit this race out, leaving Blaney with a substitute spotter for Sunday. Typically, drivers like Blaney have multiple spotters positioned around the track, but Fedewa has been his primary guide from above.

Fedewa, a veteran in the spotting business, had previously served as the spotter for Kevin Harvick on the #4 team at Stewart-Haas Racing for a decade until 2023. Blaney teamed up with Fedewa for the 2024 NASCAR season after his previous spotter, Josh Williams, parted ways with Team Penske to join Spire Motorsports.

Dustin Long from NBC shared the news on his official X page about a change in Ryan Blaney's team for the upcoming race in Chicago. He stated:

"Ryan Blaney will have a different spotter this weekend at Chicago. Spotter Tim Fedewa is out this weekend after a medical procedure. Fedewa expected back next week at Pocono. Jefferson Hodges will be the primary spotter for Blaney."

Thanks to Tim Fedewa's guidance this season, Ryan Blaney has successfully secured a spot in the playoff's top 16, highlighted by his victory at the Iowa Corn 350 at Iowa Speedway. Additionally, the #12 driver has bagged five top-5s and eight top-10s, positioning him at P8 in the standings.

Ryan Blaney is prepping for this weekend's Chicago Street Race, a track that didn't favor him last year where he ended up at P33 after starting P17. Statistically, road courses have been a mixed bag for Blaney, with finishes of P21 at Circuit of the Americas and P31 at Sonoma Raceway this season.

This weekend's race brings an additional challenge as he'll be without his primary spotter. It remains to be seen how Blaney will steer the streets of Chicago with a temporary spotter at his side.

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Ryan Blaney gets nominated for the ESPY award

ESPN rounded out June by unveiling the nominees for 22 categories that spotlight the past year’s sports achievements, with NASCAR Cup Series champ Ryan Blaney getting nominated for "Best Driver" at the 2024 ESPY Awards as per NASCAR. Blaney finds himself being nominated alongside NHRA's Matt Hagan, IndyCar's Alex Palou, and Formula 1's Max Verstappen.

Last year, the #12 Team Penske driver showcased his skill with wins at Talladega and Martinsville. His performance peaked at the right time, securing a P2 finish in four of the final six races of the season. Additional noteworthy finishes—sixth at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and 12th at the Charlotte Motor Speedway road course—played a crucial role in his championship run, despite not taking the checkered flag at the season finale in Phoenix.

NASCAR fans have the chance to move Blaney to another win by casting their votes for him at the ESPYS. Enthusiasts can vote multiple times online until July 10, right before the awards are broadcast live on ABC on July 11 at 8 p.m. ET.