Dale Earnhardt Jr. remains one of the most influential figures in NASCAR history. With 26 career Cup Series wins, two Daytona 500 victories (2004, 2014), and 15 consecutive Most Popular Driver Awards, he carved a legacy that extends far beyond the racetrack. However, he is more than just a legendary NASCAR driver. Even after retiring in 2017, he never truly left the sport.

Instead of fading into the background, Earnhardt Jr. built a massive media empire with Dirty Mo Media. His $300 Million media company produces podcasts, interviews, and behind-the-scenes NASCAR content. His flagship podcast, The Dale Jr. Download, is one of the most influential voices in the sport, providing fans with raw, unfiltered discussions about racing, rivalries, and personal experiences.

But while many drivers have followed in Dale Jr.’s footsteps, NASCAR’s rising star Ryan Blaney has shut the door on that path. Despite his popularity and previous experience, Blaney has no interest in launching a long-term podcast or media career. And his reasons are deeply personal.

Previous experience haunts Ryan Blaney!

Ryan Blaney has been phenomenal in the last few seasons. The Team Penske driver won the 2023 NASCAR Cup series and finished runner-up behind Joey Logano in 2024. While he continues to rise in his racing career, Blaney recently spoke about his podcast career. Despite his previous experience with the “Glass Case of Emotion” podcast, Blaney doesn’t see himself as a longtime media man. This is the first time has opened up on the real reason for ditching his passion project.

In a special edition of Beating and Banging, Blaney dismissed the idea of rekindling his podcast career. “No, I personally don’t think so. You know, ‘Glass Case’ was a blast for the three-four years we did it, and people really liked it. It was hard to see it go, but it just got tough for me, Kim, and Chuck to get everything going,” Blaney admitted. Notably, before the pandemic, Ryan Blaney’s ‘Glass Case of Emotion,’ podcast had a dedicated fanbase.

Notably, Ryan Blaney, along with co-hosts Kim Coon and Chuck Bush, used to do live sessions during race weekends. Their amazing chemistry and off-track talks resonated with fans. However, the show lost momentum after the pandemic. The transition to remote recordings was rough. Additionally, all three hosts moved ahead with multiple projects, including Blaney with his on-track commitments.

But whatever the reason, Blaney never officially returned to podcasting. Now, with his NASCAR career reaching new heights, his schedule is more packed than ever. However, the Penske star made it clear that he would be open to the idea of guest appearances, like he did on DBC. He also admitted that he enjoys joining Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s podcast, but the idea of doing it every week is simply not for him.

“But I enjoy doing guest spots. I think that’s kind of where I want to live. I love going to Dale’s show um I had a blast with Freddy, Carson, and Tommy, but I just don’t see me doing that every week. So, rare appearances are, I think, makes it even more special, and it makes me really want to open up um in those times. I do them you know a handful of times a year,” Blaney added.

One of the biggest reasons behind Blaney’s reluctance to make a comeback as a podcaster is his beaming NASCAR career. Team Penske driver won the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series championship, finished runner-up in 2024, and started the 2025 season with a jaw-dropping performance at the Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium. Blaney started dead last (P23) and worked his way up to second place without wrecking anyone. While he missed the checkered flag, it was evident that in a few more laps, he could have passed Chase Elliott as well. With such a fighting performance, Blaney is currently focusing on clinching another title in the upcoming season.

Blaney expresses his love for Helio Castroneves

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While Blaney may not be interested in a media career, he doesn’t shy away from sharing his opinions — especially on controversial NASCAR decisions. The 2023 NASCAR Cup Series champion recently spoke about the controversial Open Exemption Provisional. The newly announced NASCAR rule allows a reserved 41st starting spot for world-class international drivers.

This year for the Daytona 500, NASCAR allowed four times Indy 500 champion Helio Castroneves to utilize the rule. While this decision didn’t go well with many, Ryan Blaney expressed his excitement to race against the Brazilian star. “Personally, I’m happy for Helio because I love Helio. He was driving IndyCars when I got over to Penske, and he’s one of the nicest and greatest human beings you’ll ever meet. I was pumped to race with him at Daytona,” he told media.

Notably, Blaney’s respect for Castroneves is genuine. When he joined Team Penske, Castroneves was already an established star in IndyCar, winning multiple Indianapolis 500s. Despite the difference in racing backgrounds, Castroneves’ personality and work ethic left a lasting impression on Blaney.

However, Blaney also warned NASCAR not to “get greedy” with this new exemption rule. He acknowledged that while it’s great to see international talent in NASCAR, the system shouldn’t be manipulated to favor marketing-friendly names over deserving full-time drivers. “Don’t get greedy with this,” Blaney cautioned. This reflects a growing concern among NASCAR drivers. While the sport wants to bring in big-name drivers from other series, it shouldn’t come at the expense of those who have worked hard to earn their spot. Do you think OEP will help NASCAR to grow its audience and reach?