The Ryan Blaney viral chant from wife Gianna, which began as an unexpected cheer during the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series at Phoenix, has quickly become a celebrated rallying cry among fans and inside the racing community. The phrase, once a personal encouragement from Gianna Blaney to her husband, has since taken on a new life, resonating from the grandstands to garages across NASCAR events.
A Cheer That Sparked a Movement
During the climactic moments at Phoenix in 2023, Gianna Blaney’s parting words—
And remember, be Ryan f—ing Blaney
—rang out just before Ryan Blaney clinched the series championship. Captured in the Netflix series NASCAR: Full Speed, her rallying chant quickly echoed beyond that day, igniting a surge of public enthusiasm. The phrase rapidly appeared on fan apparel and merchandise, showing its power as a unifying expression among the racing crowd.
Ryan Blaney Embraces the Unexpected Fanfare
After his recent win in Nashville, Ryan Blaney reflected on the viral moment during an interview on NASCAR: The Day After. When questioned about how often he encounters the chant from fans, he replied,
More than you think! Throughout the race weekend, it gets pretty large, but yeah, it’s pretty funny.
The rising frequency of the chant among audiences illustrates its momentum as a new tradition tied to his racing identity.
How Gianna’s Words Became a Rallying Cry
Explaining the roots of the now-iconic phrase, Ryan Blaney shared that Gianna had started using it several months before that pivotal Phoenix race. He explained,
She [Gianna] started saying that handful of months before that [2023 Phoenix] probably. In her mind, it was just like, ‘Be yourself, don’t worry about anything else. Just be you and be genuine, and be who you are.’ And then that’s just how it came out of her mouth, and it caught fire on the Netflix deal, and kind of ran with it.
What began as a private exchange between husband and wife soon transformed into a resonant message championing authenticity and self-belief. For both Ryan and Gianna, the phrase serves as a symbolic reminder to remain true, despite the pressures surrounding elite motorsport.
From a Private Moment to Public Mantra
For Gianna, hearing her words repeated by fans was an overwhelming experience. She viewed the chant as evidence of the fans’ shared faith in Ryan’s abilities and character. The phrase—Just be Ryan f—ing Blaney—became more than encouragement; it stood as a mantra she hoped would continually remind her husband of his roots and strength.
Initially, Gianna was unaware her encouragement had been picked up by live microphones. When trailers for the series circulated, she admitted to a fleeting sense of embarrassment before pride took over. Her authentic moment, intended purely for Ryan, had now found its place among the broader NASCAR audience.
The Chant Finds Its Place in NASCAR Culture
Today, the Ryan Blaney viral chant from wife Gianna is firmly embedded in NASCAR’s landscape. Ryan shared how fans regularly send him custom shirts and hats emblazoned with the phrase, illustrating just how fully the racing community has embraced it. Whether in Phoenix, Nashville, or any venue where Team Penske competes, the rallying cry shows no sign of fading, signifying a new chapter in fan interaction and driver motivation within NASCAR culture.
