Ryan Blaney, carrying a renowned Ryan Blaney family racing legacy, recently opened up about the tensions that speedway racing creates within his own household, despite the family’s multi-generational commitment to motorsports. After securing victory at the Daytona regular-season finale, Blaney shared how his father, Dave Blaney, struggles personally with the dangers of pack racing.
A Deep-Rooted Family Connection to the Track
The Blaney family’s involvement in racing began with George Blaney, Ryan‘s great-grandfather, who established a racing team in Ohio alongside his lumber business. Lou Blaney, Ryan’s grandfather, continued the tradition, making a name in both modified and sprint car races. Furthering the legacy, Dave Blaney, Ryan’s father, notched the 1984 USAC Silver Crown championship before racing in the demanding World of Outlaws and later competing in the NASCAR Cup Series.
Conflicting Emotions Despite Years in Racing
Though racing is a powerful thread through the Blaney bloodline, it does not guarantee peace of mind for family members. After his Daytona win, Ryan Blaney acknowledged that his father, even after years of his own Cup Series participation, remains deeply uncomfortable with the high-risk nature of superspeedway events. Dave Blaney’s discomfort is so significant that he and his wife, Ryan’s mom, have attended fewer races this year due to other responsibilities and the emotional toll these races take on them.
“I can’t believe they come here,”
Ryan said.
“Because Dad hates speedway racing. He hates watching it. Absolutely despises it. My mom is a nervous wreck the whole time. I’m like: Just stay home. They just pace and pace and pace. But it’s fortunate that we were able to pull one out tonight, so it was good to see him in Victory Lane.”
—Ryan Blaney
The Toll of High-Stakes Competition on Family
Ryan Blaney disclosed that his parents’ anxiety is not unfounded, as superspeedway events are notorious for their large crashes. Observing their son put himself at great risk triggers an emotional response, particularly for Dave, who faced similar dangers while driving for major teams like Bill Davis Racing, Roush Racing, and Richard Childress Racing. During his NASCAR Cup Series tenure, Dave achieved his top finish—a third-place run at Darlington in 2003 while driving for Jasper Motorsports—but the frequent threats on the track left a mark that persists even now.
Extending the Family Legacy Into the Future
As the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series champion, Ryan Blaney has taken the family legacy to new heights, inspiring pride but also amplifying family anxieties about safety and success. This milestone cements the Blaney mark on the sport and sets a demanding example for the next generation. Ryan’s confidence and skill at speedway racing suggest that when he eventually passes on the torch, he may feel differently than his father about watching family continue in NASCAR—but for now, the intensity of the sport weighs heavily on the Blaney household, especially for those who stand trackside and watch loved ones navigate racing’s inherent dangers.
