All sports around the world have some beautiful traditions associated with them, be it the “Guard of Honor” in soccer, a former world champion making the first move for the current world champion in chess, or the “Green Jacket” in golf. Each of them carries a rich history and symbolism. NASCAR too has one such tradition—perhaps one shrouded in much more mystery than the others. That tradition is the Champions Journal, a personally written journal first started by Jimmie Johnson in 2010 and passed down to each Cup Series champion every year. This year the honor of being the writer goes to Ryan Blaney.

It is a self-maintained journal containing records and messages from past champions who held it for a year. The journal also includes a letter to the successor—a ritualistic letter of appreciation written to honor the next champion. However, the contents of the journal remain a mystery, a secret so well-kept that champions can’t even show it to their wives or children. Until now, the Champions Journal had been on and off the fans’ radar, but Ryan Blaney, the 2023 Cup Series Champion, has brought it back into the spotlight. He explained the sheer responsibility and profound meaning behind the tradition at the 2024 NASCAR Awards show.

“National Treasure”: Ryan Blaney and the sacred responsibility

Ryan Blaney’s connection to the journal runs deep, with serious admiration for its tradition. “The Champions Journal is something that, you know, a driver started, you know, over a decade ago, and all the champions write in it,” Blaney said, speaking to Sportsnaut. “Each year, it gets handed off to the next champion. Only champions get to read it.” Blaney was so protective of the journal that even his fiancée, Gianna Tulio, didn’t get a glimpse. “I haven’t shown it even to Gianna because it is a closed-eyes-only thing,” he admitted. Drawing a frisky comparison, Blaney likened the journal to the President’s Book of Secrets from National Treasure 2: “I try to put it on that level. So, I’m Nick Cage in National Treasure.”

The significance of the journal struck Blaney even harder when he reflected on the legends whose words he had read. “It was a pleasure to read all through it and read the words of some guys I really admired growing up,” Blaney remarked. “Hopefully, I would be able to see it again sometime.”

At the time of the NASCAR Awards, Blaney had not yet handed the journal to the 2022 champion and Team Penske teammate Joey Logano. The handoff, however, carried unique significance this year, as Blaney got the rare opportunity to write back to the driver who wrote to him in the first place. The Penske duo have dominated the Cup series ever since the introduction of the Next-Gen car in 2022, with Logano and Blaney winning all three championships since.

For Logano, a three-time Champion, the journal represents one of the sport’s most profound traditions. “It’s fun that it’s such a big secret and that everyone wants to know what it looks like,” Logano said. “We do a good job keeping it a secret. It’s honestly one of the coolest things about winning the championship.” Logano reflected on his own role in the journal’s continuation, adding, “Everyone has their own little message in there. It’s neat seeing names and how guys write differently. They’re all pretty unique.” He also acknowledged the journal’s origins: “All the credit to Jimmie for starting it. I’d have never thought of something like that.” Johnson famously won five championships in a row from 2006-2010, so the journal could have started around that time but no one really knows its true origins.

The journal’s secrecy and respect among champions resonate throughout NASCAR’s ‘Crème De La Crème.’ Kyle Larson, who held the journal after his 2021 championship, described it as “an amazing tradition” filled with “a lot of respect.” For Logano, the most exciting part about this year’s exchange was the opportunity to get it from Blaney. “It’s interesting because sometimes you don’t know the driver well that you’re writing to, but not this time,” Logano said. “Now, Ryan’s writing a letter back to me. It’s fun, and I’m looking forward to it.”

“Get it back”: Ryan Blaney’s ambition to be Champion again

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For now, it may be hard for Ryan Blaney to pass it down to the next winner, but he is confident that he will get it back one day. “I’ve been thinking about it through the year a little bit, so it would be unfortunate to let that thing go, but hopefully, I would be able to get it back,” Blaney said, implying his heartwarming aspiration to be champion again soon. With the 2025 season starting soon and Penske Racing in hot form, it is very possible that Blaney can stand out as a true contender for the championship.

Whosoever gets to hold the Champions Journal should never forget its conception. This mysterious journal, born from Jimmie Johnson’s idea during his historic championship run, continues to bind generations of champions. Through their written words, NASCAR’s title winners have formed a mutual respect and shared legacy. As the journal now finds its way back to Logano, it reminds fans that some of NASCAR’s best traditions go beyond the track—hidden in plain sight, reserved only for the elite few who’ve earned their place in its pages.