Ryan Blaney enters Phoenix as the defending champ with NASCAR history in his sights. Team Penske #12 fought his way through a tough race at Martinsville to win and qualify after being way behind the transfer spot. However, a win at Phoenix might increase the workload on his father! Yes, you read that right. Ryan Blaney’s father, Dave, is still yet to finish building a trophy case for his first championship as his son waltzes into another final. However, Dave has his reasons as Blaney is close to emulating over a decade-old record!

Ryan Blaney is hungry for another title

Jimmie Johnson is a name that resonates with success not just in NASCAR but all of motorsport. The Hendrick Motorsports legend is a 7-time Cup series winner, the most of all time, and this includes the most dominant run in Cup history. Between 2006 to 2010, Johnson won five straight Cup series titles. That’s right. As if that wasn’t enough, he went on to bag two more in 2013 and 2016, cementing himself among the greatest of all time.

Since his last repeat titles, which were in 2009 and 2010, no driver has ever won the Cup series in back-to-back years. In 2024, Ryan Blaney stands a chance to make history and emulate a legend of the past. Blaney will enter an elite company and become only the 11th driver in NASCAR history to win consecutive championships, with other notable names being Dale Earnhardt Sr., Richard Petty, and Jeff Gordon. With his son entering such an elite company, Blaney’s father had a confident reason as to why his first trophy case was not ready yet.

According to Blaney, his dad’s excuse is a classic: “Well, I just didn’t know if I needed to build one or two.” That’s right—Dave Blaney might be hedging his bets, waiting to see if his son can pull off back-to-back championships before he breaks out the power tools.

To truly understand the sentiment behind this humorous excuse, you must turn your attention back in time to last year, Ryan’s maiden title-winning season. Blaney’s 2023 was a dream come true. Piloting the No. 12 Ford for Team Penske, he not only clinched his first Cup Series championship but did so in style. The season kicked into high gear with a thrilling win at the Coca-Cola 600, snapping a 59-race winless streak and sending a message that Ryan Blaney was no longer just a contender—he was a championship threat.

But the real magic happened in the playoffs. Blaney went full throttle with clutch victories at Talladega and Martinsville, his Martinsville win sealing his spot in the Championship 4 at Phoenix, a feat he repeated this year too. And when it came down to the wire, Blaney delivered a near-flawless performance, besting his rivals to grab that coveted Cup trophy. Team Penske added another gem to their collection, joining Brad Keselowski and Joey Logano in the champions’ club. “Winning that first title, man, it was surreal,” Blaney reflected. “But it just makes you hungrier for more.”

Phoenix or ashes: Can Blaney pull off the repeat?

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As the NASCAR world turns its attention to Phoenix Raceway, a lot of eyes are on Blaney. But Blaney’s not letting the pressure get to him. He’s keeping things light, joking that his dad can wait a few more days before starting that second trophy case. “I guess he’s had enough time to think about it,” Ryan joked. “But yeah, let’s just wait and see. Hopefully, I’ll make him sweat a little more and give him some extra work this winter.”

Blaney has been a top contender week in and week out this season, racking up eleven top-5 finishes and three victories at Iowa, Pocono, and Martinsville. The Penske #12 finished 5th during the Phoenix spring race after an impressive drive clawing his way up after starting in 16th place on the grid. What makes Blaney such a prominent contender is his ability to make his way up the track. All but one of Blaney’s top-5 finishes this season have come from starting below his finishing position on the grid. It does not matter where Blaney starts, but once he takes the lead, he rarely gives it up.

So here we are, folks—Blaney versus history, with a dash of fun family motivation thrown in. Will he make Dave Blaney fire up the saw for a second trophy case, or will his dad get off easy with just one? Either way, Ryan Blaney is poised to make the 2024 season finale one for the ages. Do you think Blaney will create history in Phoenix?