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Ryan Blaney took home his first NASCAR Cup Series championship on Sunday at Phoenix Raceway.
The 29-year-old out-dueled former series champion Kyle Larson, as well as fellow Final Four drivers William Byron and Christopher Bell to do so.
The championship win came as a surprise to many, as Blaney struggled for much of the early part of the season.
But perhaps nobody was surprised as former driver turned commentator Kyle Petty.
Petty, the son of legendary seven-time series champion Richard Petty, was extremely critical of Blaney earlier in the season
“I look at the Fords, and I look at Penske, and I look at Joey and Ryan Blaney,” Petty said on the NASCAR on NBC podcast. “For me — I’m going, to be honest, man — Ryan Blaney is the new Kasey Kahne. Potential unfulfilled. Everybody wants to talk about what he can do, but he never does anything for whatever reason. For whatever reason, he just never gets past that hump.”
The comments set NASCAR fans off at the time, as they rushed to the defense of Blaney. But in the aftermath of his championship, they’re yet again coming after Petty.
“Where’s Kyle Petty right now?! I just wanna talk,” tweeted @sarahdavisagain.
“To Kyle Petty, I don’t wanna hear nothing about Ryan Blaney being the new Kasey Kahne ever again and I hope he know his place next he mentions somebody being mentally fragile or being the new so and so driver,” @GRoddy3x wrote.
One fan even took it a step further.
Thank you for all your kind tweets! It’s always amazing how many of you guys have never been wrong about anything! Congratulations to @Blaney on an Amazing drive the last two weeks.. Championship earned!
— Kyle Petty (@kylepetty) November 5, 2023
“Thank you all for your kind tweets,” he tweeted. It’s always amazing how many of you guys have never been wrong about anything! Congratulations to @Blaney on an amazing drive the last two weeks. Championship earned!”
Atta way to tweet through it, Kyle.