Ryan Blaney Reveals the Importance of Sports Psychologist Amidst Bubba Wallace’s Open Mental Health Struggles

Mental strength is paramount in a sport where milliseconds can make a difference. Imagine the psychological pressure on a race leader who crashed in the race’s final lap. And who can know this better than 2023 Cup Series champion Ryan Blaney who failed to cross the Round of 8 barrier thrice before finally making it to the championship race last year. However, the driver has always appeared motivated to come back.

Considering his experiences, Ryan Blaney is well aware of the essence of mental health in NASCAR. Joining former NASCAR driver Kenny Wallace on the 38th episode of the Kenny Conversation, the Team Penske star highlighted the need of the hour. He elaborated on his opinion as Kenny mentioned one of Blaney’s best friends, Bubba Wallace, to reference his question.

Ryan Blaney opens up on his secret to tackling mental blocks

Over the years, as NASCAR evolved, the community began to change with the sport. With the importance of mental health being recognized by the drivers, the fans have adapted to it. However, some cracks remain in the wall. Ryan Blaney’s long-time friend and 23XI Racing driver, Bubba Wallace, has been at the receiving end of criticism and hate quite often since his Cup Series debut.

Watching him grow as one of the hard-willed drivers in NASCAR has affected Blaney. Bubba has often spoken about his struggle against unwarranted criticism and how he learned to filter it out. As Kenny Wallace referred to the #23 driver to understand the role of mental strength, Ryan Blaney revealed his method of coping with pressure.

“I think everyone kind of uses someone different, right?” said the #12 Ford driver. “There is a great guy that I’ve personally used throughout the years. Those people really help you out. I think that’s important.“

Ryan Blaney has never been one to shy away from his vulnerable areas and aims to improve continuously. Emphasizing his go-to guy’s role in the same, he added,

“Good or bad. This guy I talked to, I always point out the bad, right? Because, how do you work on it? You can talk about the good stuff all day long. Great, you’re doing good in this area. But it’s like here’s where I struggle and where he sees that I struggle. he thinks I can do better, and then we go to work on those. Sometimes that’s not fun. It’s not fun pointing out things you don’t do well, but if you don’t address those things, you’re going to continue to do those things poorly.”

The sessions must have been working wonders, considering Blaney’s mental fortitude. Last season, the 30-year-old experienced a dry run of results after winning the Coca-Cola 600. Ryan Blaney held his position in the playoffs with a win at Talladega in the Round of 12 and won at Martinsville to reach his first-ever Cup Series championship race.

As the talk between the two race car drivers continued, Ryan Blaney unveiled how prioritizing mental health has affected his daily life.

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Blaney has often been seen losing his temper during races. His temperament has often forced him to make a mistake, resulting in his elimination for three successive seasons. Expressing gratitude to his secret keeper, Jeremy, Ryan Blaney spoke about how his former crew chief, Jonathan Hassler, also helped him vent his frustration.

“So, he’s been amazing. His name’s Jeremy, and he has really helped me out. He sits down with me and Jonathan Hassler, my crew chief, a bit and just talks it out, and it’s good. It gets you in a different mindset and I think it’s healthy. Especially if you’re in a grueling sport where you’re on the go all the time, and it can be ups and downs, and emotions are everywhere,” claimed the 2023 champion.

Wallace and Ryan Blaney also discussed former hard-minded drivers like Dale Earnhardt and Rusty Wallace in the episode. To become that strong psychologically, one of the significant things needed is experience and growth, as per Blaney.

“I also think it is easier as you get older; to accept those things and not be hard on yourself. Maybe get a little more mature, but I think that stuff’s important,” Ryan Blaney said.

Following his championship-winning performance at Phoenix, the #12 driver has taken time away from racing to spend quality time with his family and loved ones. With the 2024 season closing, a focused mind is at the top of Ryan Blaney’s to-do list.

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