Ryan Blaney Reveals True Feelings on New NASCAR Deal After Dad Never Got a Shot at “Penske or a Hendrick or a Gibbs”

Ryan Blaney has had little to smile about, especially with how his Cup campaign is playing out. However, the Team Penske organization has reinforced their faith in him. To be exact, the driver has inked a brand new contract with the outfit with which he has driven for since 2012.

Blaney said, “It’s really nice to get something done. Me and [Roger Penske] got talking this year that it’s hard to believe that I signed with them in summer or fall of 2012. So it’s been 10 years, which is pretty unreal, blew my mind to be honest with you. So they’ve been just amazing to me.”

The best part is that the 28-year-old driver’s contract is for the long term. Admittedly, the team has been very tight-lipped about the financial terms. However, they acknowledged that the plan is to keep Ryan Blaney in the long-term and secure their future.

Ryan Blaney was grateful for all the faith and insisted that the Team Penske organization was like a family to him. The last time he penned a new deal was in 2020; his first deal was all the way back in 2012 as a fresh-faced rookie.

Team Penske contract extension means a lot to Ryan Blaney

Blaney spoke about the significance of his contract extension. The 28-year-old said, “To be just, on one hand, noticed by a big team like Penske, and having me out there and meeting with Brad, meeting with Tim Cindric and everybody, it really meant a lot to me. I grew up around racing, just watching Dad do it, and, you know, he never really got a shot like that with a big team.”

The Team Penske driver clarified his father drove for amazing teams like RCR and Bill Davis.

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However, he added, “But not like, you know, a Penske or a Hendrick or a Gibbs. Dad never really got that shot, so it made me appreciate it even more, in that aspect of like, ‘Man, I’m really getting a great chance here, something that that Dad, you know, never got the opportunity to do.’ So just really thankful to be able to be a part of such a big group and then to be able to stick with them for so long and for us to extend it, definitely means a lot.”

Ryan Blaney secured a Top 10 finish in his debut Xfinity race. He also claimed seven wins each in the Xfinity and in the Cup Series. ‘YRB’ has also been a Playoff contender for five straight seasons.

Now, Blaney, who is seeking a sixth straight trip to the Playoffs, is in danger of having that streak snapped unless he can steal a win in one of the regular season races. Will the extension spur him on to a Cup Series race win?

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