Ryan Blaney Unmasks His ‘Biggest Fans’ As He Credits Dad Dave’s Influence for NASCAR Career

The Blaney family’s racing roots run deep, starting with Lou, Ryan Blaney‘s grandfather, being the star in the modified and sprint-car world. He earned a well-deserved spot in the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame. Next up was Ryan Blaney’s dad, Dave, who cut his teeth on the dirt tracks of Ohio before shifting gears to the NASCAR Cup Series in ’92. Dave raced in 473 Cup Series races, and although a victory eluded him, he notched four top-5 and 28 top-10 finishes. Yet, it’s Ryan who’s now basking in the glory, filling the void left by his father’s near-misses with his own racing triumphs.

In a heart-to-heart with Dale Jarrett, Ryan spilled the beans that his dad was his guiding star in racing. It was Dave who fueled Ryan’s passion for the sport. But Ryan was quick to tip his hat to the unsung heroes behind his success – his mother and sisters, whose sacrifices paved the way for his meteoric rise through the ranks.

Ryan Blaney’s sisters once raced in the Quarter Midgets Circuits

Growing up in the shadow of the racetrack, watching Dave burn rubber every Sunday, racing became second nature to Ryan and his family members. He shares a tight-knit bond with his mother and sisters, reminiscing with Dale Jarrett how his sisters briefly flirted with racing before hanging up their helmets. But their support never waned: “My two sisters actually grew up racing a little bit of Quarter Midgets, and got out of it when it was time to move up. But yeah, we’re very close. They are my biggest fans. My two sisters, even though they live in different states now. I think it was just growing up at the racetrack and all of us going week in and week out together.”

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Ryan idolized his father, aspiring to mirror Dave’s prowess on the track. Dave Blaney etched a name for himself as a fierce competitor on the track and a man of few words. Despite never clinching a Cup Series win in 17 years and nearly 500 attempts, his near-miss at the 2012 Daytona 500, where he led until a bizarre incident involving a jet dryer, remains a testament to his skill.

Ryan credits his father for laying the groundwork for his racing career, which took off at the tender age of 9 in quarter midget racing. “I was growing up wanting to be like my dad, growing up at the race track watching dad race. But yeah, Dad was my main influence.” Dave’s influence is a cornerstone of Ryan’s success, so much so that Dave himself once dreamed of seeing his son lift the championship trophy. 

Dave Blaney always had a hunch that Ryan Blaney had what it takes to clinch the Cup Championship one day

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Post-race, with the dust still settling from the finale, Dave was quizzed about whether he foresaw Ryan’s triumph in the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series. Dave Blaney replied, “I could actually. He was always super talented, really young. But lots of guys are. You’ve still got to make all this stuff happen. Progress through it. He’s done it all. He’s made it happen,” as per on3.com.

But Ryan’s rise to stardom wasn’t a solo flight. Another VIP in his life was his mother, Lisa Blaney. Ryan was quick to shine a spotlight on her, underscoring her unwavering support and the sacrifices she made.

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Firstsportz.com reported that while he always dreamt of following in his dad’s tire tracks, it was his mom’s quiet strength that truly fueled his journey. “I just grew up wanting to be like dad, and I was really lucky to have a shot to do what he did and to race, and you know, to look back on that stuff, my childhood, and being around the racetracks…I think my mom’s the biggest MVP, though, I mean how much she sacrificed when I was a kid.”

With such a supportive family by his side, Ryan Blaney could even aim for the stars if he wanted to!