
via Getty
DARLINGTON, SOUTH CAROLINA – AUGUST 30: Ryan Blaney, driver of the #12 Menards/Pennzoil Ford, stands in the garage area during practice for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Bojangles’ Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway on August 30, 2019 in Darlington, South Carolina. (Photo by Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images)

via Getty
DARLINGTON, SOUTH CAROLINA – AUGUST 30: Ryan Blaney, driver of the #12 Menards/Pennzoil Ford, stands in the garage area during practice for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Bojangles’ Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway on August 30, 2019 in Darlington, South Carolina. (Photo by Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images)
Team Penseke’s Ryan Blaney has a unique way to connect with fans throughout the racing season. The #12 driver has turned to music to resonate with the ebbs and flows of the lives that encircles the diverse fanbase he encounters at each scheduled race.
However, what started as a harmonious symphony of shared musical experiences took a sudden, dissonant turn when a merciless prankster tampered with Blaney’s carefully curated playlist. In the wake of this audacious act, Blaney’s anger ignited, propelling him on a mission to expose the haters responsible.
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A playlist prankster strikes; Ryan Blaney battle with deceptive haters
Taking advantage of the popular music streaming platform Spotify, Blaney has been curating weekly playlists that reflect fans’ local culture and preferences in various race markets. From Southern California to Kansas, Florida to New York, Blaney’s playlists are carefully crafted to feature bands and songs that resonate with each region.
For the New Hampshire race, Blaney had prepared a special playlist for the Lobster state.
“This #LocalTracks Playlist is simply ‘MAGIC’ this week. We are ‘FISHING’ for anything “aquatic” and dive into the home of Loudon the Lobster. 🦞” he posted on Twitter on 14th July.
But it looks like someone hacked into the playlist and completely changed it, making the 2023 Coca-Cola 600 Winner quite furious.
Well that does it – someone has ruined it for all of us and deleted our Playlist and added their music. This is why we can’t have nice things. Sorry. https://t.co/QpSRQ8I1y5
— Ryan Blaney (@Blaney) July 15, 2023
Initially, Blaney would compile a selection of songs himself and then reach out to fans on Twitter, soliciting their suggestions. However, as the 2023 season progressed, Blaney took his fan engagement further.
He allowed his followers to directly edit the playlists, allowing them to add songs spanning across genres and styles, creating a collaborative musical experience. Talking to Heavy, Blaney shared how the idea first originated.
“His name’s Justin. He works for me. He kind of came up with that idea and thought it’d be neat. It started out initially of me and him picking out artists or bands in the general area of where we were racing.
“And then, we were like, ‘Well, it’d be cool for fans to pick their favorite artists from the area or even just a song they like that kind of describes the area we’re racing that weekend.’”
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Fans were quick to console their favorite racer, and he soon updated them with a piece of good news.
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Ryan Blaney strikes back
This tradition of crafting playlists on Spotify has opened up a new music world for Blaney. While he may not be a fan of every song suggested, he genuinely appreciates the opportunity to learn about his fans and their individual musical preferences.
The Team Penske driver soon posted another Spotify playlist for his fans on Twitter.
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No public collaboration, but here’s one for our REAL supporters:https://t.co/sAMN13gmtx https://t.co/UDJfWsdTms
— Ryan Blaney (@Blaney) July 15, 2023
The #12 Ford Mustang driver’s musical tastes are eclectic, transcending the boundaries of specific genres. He embraces a wide range of artists, evident from his dog named Sturgill who is named after a famous country singer-songwriter, and his ability to unleash a brutal scream that would harmonize with many metal bands.
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Through his weekly playlists, Blaney shares his musical preferences and immerses himself in the rich tapestry of his fans’ diverse music choices.
Read More: “Shocked” Team Penske Star Ryan Blaney Names the “Stupidest Race Car Driver Ever” at Daytona 500
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