Ryan Blaney 2022 Daytona 500
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Generally, it usually takes a couple of weeks into a new season for NASCAR drivers to quibble and find fault with each other over an on-track incident. But thanks to the Los Angeles Coliseum Clash that kicked off 2022, two prominent young Cup stars have entered the Daytona 500 carrying a dispute that hasn't necessarily been resolved.

During Daytona 500 media day on Wednesday, both Ryan Blaney and Erik Jones told members of the press that they have not spoken to each other since an on-track run-in during the Busch Light Clash. In the exhibition race's main event, Jones had sent Blaney into the Turn 2 wall after taking exception to a brake-check by Blaney, sending Blaney to the garage area -- where he chucked his HANS device at Jones' car while the race was under caution -- and out of contention.

Despite the lack of a smoothing over, both drivers expressed that the incident was behind them.

"I haven't talked to Erik. I don't have anything to really talk to him about," Blaney said. "I'm over it. It's funny, he thought I was supposed to apologize after I got fenced, but two people are gonna think differently. I haven't talked to him, but I'm over it. It's in the past and we'll move on from it."

"He hasn't reached out to me. So I guess it's resolved," Jones said. "... If I had a problem with someone I would talk to them. So I guess it's over."

Blaney and Jones' incident was one of two major on-track run-ins during the Clash, the other of which involved defending Cup champion Kyle Larson and Justin Haley. After taking exception to contact from Haley while racing for position, Larson turned down on Haley's car, sending it into the wall and out of the race.

Talking to reporters, Larson admitted that he had overreacted and was contrite over the incident, particularly given industry parts shortages that have amplified the costs of crashing a racecar.

"I did not want to crash him, but I wanted that inside lane for the next corner. So I felt really bad. Instantly I felt bad that I crashed him," Larson said. "And he came over and talked to me after the race, and I told him 'I'm sorry that I wrecked you.'

"... I feel like I do a really good job, normally, of staying calm. But I think that instance, I didn't. And I think probably with no points on the line probably played a factor in my overreaction. I hate that I tore up their car because of the lack of equipment that all the teams have right now. Nobody can really afford to be tearing stuff up at this point."

Should Blaney and Jones or any other drivers continue to hold a grudge against each other, it'll be quite awhile before the first ample opportunity for payback arises: The first short track race of the season isn't until the first week of April, when Richmond Raceway starts a three-week stretch of close-quarters racing.