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Young, a bit brash, and a self-avowed Star Wars nerd, Ryan Blaney is not your average NASCAR driver.
But the 2023 Cup Series champion is, however, the face of what it is quickly becoming an ever-changing NASCAR landscape as it heads into an era with a lot of unknowns.
Sure, Blaney has some good ol’ boy about him.
As evidenced by his love of country music star Sturgill Simpson – so much so that Blaney’s dog is named after the Kentucky native.
But Blaney, whose father Dave and uncle Dale are dirt track racing legends in Ohio, is a new take on the classic NASCAR superstar.
And now that he’s the series champion, Blaney is the one tasked with ushering in a new era of the sport.
Ryan Blaney Isn’t Worried About The Haters
Blaney was a top tier prospect for several years before reaching the pinnacle of the sport.
He had immense success at Brad Keselowski Racing in Truck Series before impressing in both the Xfinity Series and with the legendary Wood Brothers team in the Cup Series.
The the Holy Grail of a Cup Series championship had eluded him up until this year. As had several race victories, which sometimes came down to self-inflicted wounds.
This led to criticism throughout the garage, with some claiming that Blaney lacked the ability to get over the hump.
In the wake of his championship, Blaney says he enjoys the opportunity to prove those critics wrong.
“It’s nice to prove people wrong,” he said in an interview with BroBible. “You see that stuff and it’s something that you work on. You’re always trying to get better as an athlete and as a driver and it’s nice when you go prove people wrong who have those opinions about you. So yeah, it’s definitely something that I’ve thought of a little.”
Moving From Student To Teacher At Penske Racing
Blaney moved from Wood Brothers to Penske Racing in 2018 and found immediate success, finishing 10th in the 2018 points standings.
But for much of his time there, he stood in the shadows of now fellow series champions Brad Keselowski and Joey Logano.
In 2022, Keselowski left Penske to partner with legendary team owner Jack Roush to create Roush Fenway Keselowski racing.
This left a void at Penske, one that Blaney seamlessly stepped into.
“When Brad left to go to his own team I felt like I was obligated to be in this leadership role with Joey, being the two veteran guys,” he said. “…Once you win a championship, I feel like you’re really established with your team, and I think that’s just gonna be better for our whole team as we get more and more successful.”
Ryan Blaney Is Ready To Be The Face Of NASCAR
Though friend and fellow champion Chase Elliott has served as the sport’s most-popular driver for five years running, Blaney isn’t far behind.
Now that he’s reigning series champion, however, the Team Penske star says he’s ready and willing to take on a role as the face of the sport.
“I think back to when I was a kid and I watched all the champions and I wanted to be like them” he said. “So now that I’m fortunate enough to have won a championship, you want to be a role model for the younger kids out there, younger racers.
“So I think it’s part of your job to be that person and we have a good opportunity to cash in on that.”
Blaney’s media savvy and often humorous self-awareness were on display well before he became a series champion. It was often displayed on a now-defunct Glass Case of Emotion podcast (which was revived for a celebratory episode).
But with a championship in hand, Blaney’s platform is as big as it’s ever been. And he’s not shying away from the spotlight.