Ryan Blaney expecting first child marks a major milestone for the Team Penske driver and his wife, Gianna Tulio, as they prepare to welcome their baby in December 2025. Blaney, a former NASCAR Cup Series champion from Hartford Township, Ohio, has expressed that his off-season will be devoted to adjusting to his new role as a parent.
Blaney’s Focus Shifts as Family Grows
With the arrival of his first child approaching, Blaney is entering unfamiliar territory both personally and professionally. Though the end of the NASCAR season typically offers drivers time to rest or prepare for the next championship, Blaney is planning to devote all his energy to his family. He shared his thoughts in a recent interview with journalist Matt Weaver, emphasizing that parenting will be his only agenda during the break.
“Everyone keeps asking for my off-season plans. I have no plans. I have the plan of keeping a child alive.”
— Ryan Blaney, Driver
The couple is counting down the final weeks as the off-season approaches, and Blaney acknowledged how this shift means spending holidays at home with their newborn. He reflected on the big changes ahead, indicating the adjustment from prior holiday routines.
“That’s what my plan is,” Ryan Blaney continued.
“We’re probably a couple weeks out. That will consume our off-season but in a good way. We’re excited. It’s just that of going to the holidays as opposed to the kid is an old and get out. Like, ah, we’ve got to stay home. It’s a youngin’. So, yeah, we’re looking forward to that. That’s all we’ve got planned.”
— Ryan Blaney, Driver
Racing Updates and Current Standing
Despite his personal excitement, Blaney exits the 2025 season under challenging circumstances for Team Penske. None of the Penske drivers, including Blaney and Joey Logano, reached the Championship 4. Blaney’s playoff run ended in the Round of 8, yet he will still compete in the season’s final championship race on November 2. Entering his tenth full season in the NASCAR Cup Series—eight of those with Team Penske—the 31-year-old currently ranks sixth in points and has achieved three wins, fourteen top-five finishes, and eighteen top-10 results this season.
Fans can watch the 312-lap championship event live on Peacock at 7:30 pm ET. Radio coverage will also be available through MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio as Blaney continues to battle in major events despite not being in title contention. Denny Hamlin, Chase Briscoe, Kyle Larson, and William Byron remain in the running for the 2025 championship.
Gianna Tulio’s Challenging Pregnancy Journey
While growing their family has brought excitement, the path has not been without difficulties for Gianna Tulio. Earlier this year, Gianna shared that her early pregnancy was tough, requiring weekly IV treatments to manage her symptoms. Blaney spoke candidly about these challenges during an appearance on the Dale Jr. Download podcast, crediting Gianna’s resilience throughout her experience.
“Seeing like Gianna just go through it and like struggled really hard in the beginning, like being super sick for a long time and then like and hated it, right?”
— Ryan Blaney, Driver
He acknowledged how overwhelming the early months were for Gianna and their household, but he noted improvement in her condition as time progressed.
“Like this sucks. Like, I literally am sick all day, every day for months. And now, the last couple months, she’s gotten over that. And it’s gotten to a point where she’s really enjoying it now,”
he added. — Ryan Blaney, Driver
Looking Ahead to Major Life Changes
With just one NASCAR Cup Series race remaining in the season, Blaney’s attention is split between the upcoming championship race and preparing for his child’s arrival. As he and Gianna Tulio navigate this significant period, their journey highlights both the uncertainty and hope that come with expanding a family under the public eye. The next few weeks promise to be transformative for the driver, his team, and their supporters, as they witness Blaney adapt not only as an athlete but as a new father.
Ryan Blaney on offseason plans pic.twitter.com/ENIRAZKykY
— Matt Weaver (@MattWeaverRA) November 1, 2025
