Ryan Blaney’s Father Knew When His Son Was 14 That He Was Going to Make It in NASCAR, 15 Years Later He Did His Dad Proud

The words of Peter Pan, “All you need is faith, trust, and a little bit of pixie dust,” have often reinforced hopes for every crestfallen individual. However, for the 2023 Cup Series champion Ryan Blaney, it was not pixie dust that worked wonders but his father, Dave Blaney’s unconditional belief in his son’s racing prowess.

After a dismal 2022 season, it was not until the Crown Jewel race of the Coca-Cola 600, that the Team Penske driver ended his 59-race winless streak. This eventually changed the tides for Blaney’s 2023 NASCAR conquest, but uncertainty loomed over his championship conquest. However, it was his father, who adhered to his belief. Moreover, it was not the first time that the former racer gambled on his faith in his son. He also did when Ryan began his racing career, and it was apparent from his assertion in front of Dale Earnhardt Jr.

15 years later, Ryan Blaney made his father’s prophecy come true

For Ryan Blaney, it has always been his father and grandfather who have been his biggest inspirations in his racing career. Time and again the driver has acknowledged the support that his family gave, and this was also evident in his championship speech at Nashville City. The driver asserted his father’s vision of the championship that the driver was able to walk down upon.

While there may have been instances, where self-doubt had embraced the driver, it was his father who remained stuck on his belief, that he had conceived when Blaney was 14 years old and embarked on his racing career. In an interview with Dale Earnhardt Jr, Dave Blaney elaborated on his son’s racing caliber. When asked when the father had thought his son had the potential of becoming a chiseled racer, Dave Blaney asserted, “It was at Orange County, your first Super Late Models Start. He was 14, he looked 10 and we tested at Orange County, Hickory, and would run really good.”

“So he shows up, qualifies in the middle of the field, and I remember driver introductions. I was standing out around with you and other drivers are looking at me, like I am a criminal. Got this 10-year-old-looking kid in this car, like what are you doing? I am at top of my trailer, Kyle Busch got his Late Model Team there, his dad Tom came over and stood on top of my trailer.”

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He also added, “We stand on top of my trailer and he goes from about 14th, 16th to 4th in about 40 laps at Orange County up the hill, driving under him, around him, we are standing like is Kyle Busch driving this car. He is 14, first race, I knew right there, he had it. I don’t know if it’s going to get you there but Holy cr*p, that was nice.”

“That 40 laps was enough for me.” the senior Blaney asserted.

Ryan Blaney credits his sisters for being his biggest fans

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It took 15 years for Ryan Blaney to prove his father’s prophecy was true, as he finally clinched the second consecutive championship for Team Penske. While it takes immense skills, and motivation to be driving in NASCAR’s elite series, Blaney does not take the full credit for his racing career.

In an interview with NBC’s Dale Jarett, Blaney divulged the importance of his sisters and their influence on his racing career. He expressed, “We’re a family of racers. Growing up wanting to be like my dad [Dave Blaney], growing up at the race track, watching dad race […] Dad was my main influence.”

“My two sisters actually grew up there racing over quarter midgets and got out of it when it was time to move up. We’re very close though. My biggest fans are my two sisters even though they live in different states now. I think it was just growing up at the race track and all of us going week in and week out together.”

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The 2023 season proved to be a fruitful year for Ryan Blaney, whether it was on the racing front or in his personal life. It is to be seen if the driver can replicate the same form in the upcoming season.