Ryan Blaney grew up in a racing family, but he failed to make it to his father, Dave Blaney’s final career race. It was a race filled with nostalgia, emotion, and a fitting farewell to a man who had spent decades behind the wheel. The 61-year-old driver lined up at Sharon Speedway for the 16th annual Lou Blaney Memorial in 2024 for one final time. Racing at a track that carried the family name, Dave had only one goal—to go out on top.
As the laps wound down, he fought off challenges from sprint car stars like Ryan Smith, Danny Dietrich, and even his own brother, Dale Blaney. But in the end, “The Buckeye Bullet” did what he had done so many times before—he parked it in victory lane. The win marked his third Lou Blaney Memorial victory and the perfect way to close out his career. Ryan Blaney, away from the track, took his social media platform to celebrate his father’s win.
“Congratulations to Pops in his final go around. I wish I could’ve been there to see The Bullet Park for the last time… Cheers Dad! @BuckeyeBullet10,” he wrote on X. It was a moment that showcased the Blaney family’s deep-rooted racing legacy which often haunted Ryan Blaney in his career. Many had speculated that his success was simply a product of his family name. Now, Blaney has finally spoken about the issue and revealed how he made his way into the NASCAR world.
Ryan Blaney makes his name in the NASCAR world!
NASCAR has long been a sport where family legacies thrive. From the Pettys and Earnhardts to the Elliotts and Burtons, generations of drivers have followed in their parents’ footsteps. With such a history, questions about nepotism often arise. Ryan Blaney recently dismissed those doubts and made it clear that he chose his path to NASCAR. When asked if he ever considered another career path, Blaney was refreshingly honest.
“Yeah, it’s always what I wanted to do, just because I grew up around it, and it was what I was most comfortable with—just watching my dad do it. I played other sports, you know. I love playing basketball, I love baseball, but then I kind of had to come to a realization, like, I’m probably not going to make it but I have my father’s genes; I’m probably going to be 5’9″ and like 140 pounds. Racing is probably the best route for me,” Blaney admitted in a recent interview.
TALLADEGA, AL – APRIL 23: Ryan Blaney 12 Team Penske Wurth Ford looks on before the running of the NASCAR, Motorsport, USA Cup Series Geico 500 on April 23, 2023, at Talladega Superspeedway in Talladega, AL. Photo by Jeffrey Vest/Icon Sportswire AUTO: APR 23 NASCAR Cup Series GEICO 500 EDITORIAL USE ONLY Icon230423338500
Quite obviously, Blaney’s decision to pursue racing has paid off. Since joining Team Penske full-time in 2018, he has built an impressive resume. He captured his first Cup Series win in 2017 at Pocono Raceway with Wood Brothers Racing, won the prestigious Coca-Cola 600 in 2023, and ultimately secured the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series Championship. His 2024 season further solidified his reputation. He became the first driver to win at Iowa Speedway in all three of NASCAR’s national series and secured another victory at Pocono.
By the end of the year, he finished second in the championship standings, just behind his Penske teammate Joey Logano. Blaney’s rise wasn’t handed to him. He fought through the ranks, winning in the Truck Series and Xfinity Series, and finally making his mark in the Cup Series. His success has been built on talent, not just his last name. And his father, Dave Blaney, has always been behind him.
After Ryan won the 2023 Cup title, his father reflected on his journey. “He was super talented, really young. But lots of guys are! You still have to make all this stuff happen and progress through, and he’s done it all. He has made it happen. Right from the start, he was incredibly fast and incredibly good. So, I knew he had the skills to go somewhere,” he admitted. However, he never pressured his son into racing, but when Ryan chose to follow in his footsteps, Dave knew he had the drive to make it on his own.
The Blaney family name is deeply rooted in motorsports. Lou Blaney, Ryan’s grandfather, was a dominant force in Super Sprint racing, winning over 200 races. Dave carried on that tradition, making his name in the World of Outlaws before transitioning to NASCAR. Now, it’s Ryan’s turn to carry the Blaney name forward. And as he continues to stack up victories and contend for championships, he’s proving that his success isn’t about legacy—it’s about performance.
Blaney heaps praise on Homestead-Miami!
As the NASCAR season moves forward, Ryan Blaney has his sights set on Homestead-Miami Speedway. The track has always been one of his strongest, and he nearly won there in 2024. After leading 53 laps, he lost in a late-race battle, finishing second to Tyler Reddick after the 23XI Racing driver made a last-lap double overtake on Blaney and Denny Hamlin. Now, as he returns in 2025, the track’s new position in the schedule could change everything.
Homestead was once the season finale, hosting NASCAR’s championship race from 2002 to 2019. But after NASCAR moved it to an early-season race in 2020, and then a playoff race for three years, it lost some of its high-stakes drama. That doesn’t mean it’s any less important for Blaney. “It’s one of the fun places we go to. Anywhere you’re kinda sliding the car around… So, Homestead, you kind of get away with that stuff. Whether it’s going to be at the very end of the year or next year? We don’t know. It’s up in the air. But yeah, it’s nice that we’re going there in the spring,” he said.
With NASCAR constantly tweaking the schedule, Homestead’s role in the championship picture remains unclear. However, Blaney has consistently performed well there. If the track becomes a playoff decider again, his experience could be a game-changer. Blaney is no stranger to high-pressure moments. He thrives in crunch time, as seen in his 2023 championship run and his Martinsville win. No matter where Homestead lands on the calendar, expect Blaney to be a threat.
And as for 2025? Ryan Blaney has been the most consistent Penske driver so far and is heading to a track he loves racing. Add to this the motivation of Team Penske not being the first Ford to win a race after Josh Berry’s miracle at Vegas, and you can bet that Blaney is entering Homestead with a chip on his shoulder. Do you think Ryan Blaney can get Team Penske their opening win of the season at Homestead? Let us know in the comments!
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