Ryan Blaney and Denny Hamlin were caught up in a first-lap wreck in Sunday's NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs race at Watkins Glen. Blaney is out.

Ryan Blaney was eliminated from the race after the first lap crash when Corey Lajoie connected with Kyle Busch and collected Blaney but also Denny Hamlin.

A Lap 1 pile-up in the Bus Stop collected multiple playoff drivers at Watkins Glen, sidelining 2023 Cup Series champion Ryan Blaney.

Denny Hamlin has revealed a "cost-cutting measure" from NASCAR which partly explains Ryan Blaney's early Watkins Glen exit.

Blaney was collected in the early crash when Corey Lajoie tagged Kyle Busch and triggered an incident that also involved Denny Hamlin. Blaney and Hamlin are both playoff drivers. Hamlin drove away and finished 23rd but Blaney could not so NASCAR ordered the tow truck to take them off the track.