Ryan Blaney, the defending Cup Series champion, is drawing inspiration from wrestling legend Randy “Macho Man” Savage as he faces a challenging playoff position going into Sunday’s event at Talladega Superspeedway. The Ryan Blaney playoff mindset, infused with a sense of resilience, is at the center of his determination to overcome setbacks and push through to the championship round.
Borrowing from a Wrestling Legend’s Philosophy
Currently sitting last among the remaining playoff contenders, Blaney finds himself 31 points below the cutoff with only two races left in the Round of 8. After a tough outing in Las Vegas, where he finished at the back of the field, Blaney turned to words made famous by Randy Savage. Reflecting on the wrestling Hall of Famer, Blaney recited Savage’s iconic line:
“Unjustifiably in a position I’d rather not be in, but the cream will rise to the top,”
Blaney said, quoting Randy Savage.
Savage, who died in 2011, was celebrated for his championship pedigree, his flamboyant presence, and the unique energy he brought to interviews. Blaney appreciates not just Savage’s legacy in the ring, but also his memorable and motivational television moments.
“I don’t think there is a person before or after him that could cut promos quite like that guy,”
Blaney said of Savage.
“If I’m sitting at home and I’m bored — and maybe I’ve had a couple of drinks — I will go watch Randy Savage interviews just because I think it was amazing what was going through that man’s head.”
For Blaney, the phrase about cream rising resonates with his current predicament. He explained that it felt like “a perfect comparison” to his situation as he attempts to rebound after Las Vegas and advance in the championship race for the third consecutive year. Blaney went on to say:
“That is what we can use for this weekend,”
Blaney said.
“I thought that was a perfect comparison to my situation. Thank you Mr. Savage.”
Overcoming Challenges at Talladega
As Blaney prepares for Talladega, he knows the challenge will not be easy. The recent results have not been kind to him at this superspeedway. Blaney has failed to finish the last two races at Talladega: he was collected in a crash during green flag pit stops in the spring, placing 37th, and last season in the playoffs, a rear-end collision sent him into the wall, ending his day in 39th during the second stage.
Despite his setbacks, Blaney’s record at Talladega does include three victories and six top-five showings. However, he has also suffered six DNFs in 22 starts at the venue, proving just how unpredictable and challenging the track can be for any driver—even a champion.
This year’s playoff campaign has repeated a difficult narrative for Blaney: he’s demonstrated speed, but also seen multiple races derail due to accidents or issues beyond his control. In Las Vegas, he exited early after a left front tire failure led to a crash, notching his eighth DNF in 33 races so far this season.
If Blaney manages to secure the Cup title this year, he would have more DNFs than any champion since NASCAR adopted the current Chase/playoff system in 2004.
Team Resilience and Blaney’s Approach to Adversity
Through all the twists and turns of a volatile season, Blaney has focused on the positive aspects of his No. 12 Ford team and their collective resilience. The group has battled back from tough breaks, earning three wins and 13 top-five results alongside a string of misfortunes that included six DNFs for crashes and two for mechanical failures.
“I look at our team on the 12 car and I’ve been really, really happy with how we’ve been going about things, how we’ve been able to bounce back from bad weeks and just go do our job the next weekend and not really let it change our outlook on things and go to the racetrack confident every single week,”
Blaney told NBC Sports on Wednesday.
Blaney described his mindset shift after tough races, including the most recent one at Las Vegas. Rather than dwelling on disappointment, he aims to reset and focus on the challenges to come—like those at Talladega and then Martinsville in the next playoff round.
“So, I think it gets easier as you get older and your outlook on things change and you’re just trying to look ahead a little bit more. I think some of it come naturally and just natural growth, but other is just having these conversations with myself years ago of, ‘Hey, I want to kind of change this up about me,’ because early in my career I would stew on things a little bit longer. Now I try to just drop things and move on from them, so it’s a little bit of both, but I think that’s the healthiest way I’ve been able to deal with it.”
Personal Growth and Perspective Off the Track
Blaney’s growth is not confined to the racetrack. Away from racing, he and his wife Gianna are preparing for the arrival of their first son during the offseason, adding new perspective to the way Blaney approaches his racing struggles and life’s bigger picture.
“If I have a bad day in my job, that’s one thing, but it has put it into perspective for me watching my wife go through having a child grow inside of her – of things that she has to deal with, too, from that level,”
Blaney said of Gianna’s pregnancy. He described how witnessing his wife navigate this experience has changed his view on adversity and teamwork.
“It puts it into perspective for me like, ‘Hey, if I have a tough day, it’s nothing compared to if she has a tough day’ because she is having to deal with this and making sure that our child is all good and that she is being healthy.’ It definitely changes your outlook and then when he arrives it’s gonna change your outlook even more.”
—Ryan Blaney, 2023 Cup Champion
What Lies Ahead for Blaney’s Playoff Run
The coming race at Talladega presents a major test for Ryan Blaney’s playoff mindset and championship aspirations. As he faces a sizable points deficit with only two races before the next playoff cutoff, Blaney remains committed to staying positive, learning from past challenges, and drawing inspiration from both his racing heroes and his ever-evolving personal life. With the support of his team, lessons from figures like Randy Savage, and new perspective gained from his growing family, Blaney hopes to defy the odds and keep himself in the title hunt this season.
