Ryan Blaney, the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series champion and Team Penske driver, says he would eagerly revisit his unforgettable flight with the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds at Daytona International Speedway, calling that ride the most exhilarating moment of his career outside racing. Blaney’s Thunderbirds experience, which combined awe and discomfort, has become a defining highlight for him, and his reflections reveal why the tradition remains significant for drivers and fans alike.
Blaney’s Memorable Flight with the Thunderbirds
Nearing a decade since his flight, Ryan Blaney describes his ride in the cockpit of a U.S. Air Force Thunderbird jet as an unmatched thrill, even though it left him physically ill. He first took part in this unique experience in 2017, just before beginning his second season as a full-time Cup competitor. At that time, Blaney raced the No. 21 car for Wood Brothers Racing, sharing the adventure with rookie Erik Jones during the Thunderbirds’ annual practice ahead of their signature Delta formation flyover at Daytona International Speedway.
Blaney’s description on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio outlines the excitement and challenge of the flight:
“That was the coolest experience I’ve ever been a part of. They were so amazing. Everybody who’s a part of the Thunderbirds, not only the pilots, but the mechanics, everybody who’s kind of coordinating traffic, like those folks are no joke. And I wish I could do it again. I want to do it again, now that I’m older, because I feel like you’d have an even more of an appreciation for it.”
The flight’s intensity left a vivid impression on Blaney, especially during the sudden, near-vertical climb. He wasn’t alone in finding the experience overwhelming, as he candidly recalled the moment:
“The coolest part of what they do is they go is they go… straight to 10,000. So they pop off the runway and they go straight 90 to 10,000 feet. And you’re at 10,000 feet before you know it. And like seeing everything get very small in a very short amount of time is just unbelievable. I did get sick. I threw up, I’m not ashamed to say it.”
Blaney explained the sequence that led to his uneasy stomach, admitting that an unexpected maneuver triggered his reaction:
“I threw up at the very end. I got to the bag, which was good. I didn’t ruin the cockpit or anything. But the pilot he asked me beforehand, he’s like, ‘hey, what do you want to do, what’s your comfort level?’ I was like, ‘Man, do whatever you want. I’m in it with you, whatever you want to do, I’m cool with it.’ And I was great the whole time. And then he did something unexpected I wasn’t really ready for. And I got hot, I got queasy, and I threw up,” he continued.
Despite the physical toll, Blaney looks back at the episode with pride, framing it as an accomplishment rather than an embarrassing moment:
“But it was like a proud vomit. Like other vomit you had in your life is not proud. It’s either you overindulge in something or you’re sick and it’s a terrible vomit. This one was like I got to vomit at 30,000 feet in a Thunderbird. Like, that was that was good. I just I wish I had a better meal that morning because it didn’t taste very good coming up. But yeah, it was it was an unbelievable experience. I hope to get to do it again one day,” added Ryan Blaney.
The Thunderbirds’ flyover at the Daytona 500 remains an iconic part of the event’s tradition. In 2023, new faces such as Cup rookie Connor Zilisch and John Hunter Nemechek joined the exclusive roster of drivers who’ve participated in the Thunderbirds experience, underscoring its value as a rite of passage for top NASCAR drivers.
Recent Frustrations on Track at Daytona
While Ryan Blaney Thunderbirds experience stands as a career highlight, his latest Daytona 500 was marked by frustration on the racetrack. Throughout much of the race, Blaney and other contenders were forced into fuel-saving strategies, causing them to drop behind the race leaders during crucial green-flag stretches late in the competition.
Blaney did not hesitate to speak out about the tactics employed by his competitors—in particular, the Toyota drivers—who tightly managed all three lanes and dictated the pace as teams aimed to optimize fuel mileage rather than race flat out. After the event, he spoke on SiriusXM about the problem facing drivers and teams:
“I know we’re working on that. We’re trying to figure out ways to fix it, and there’s been a lot of discussions with the teams and drivers on NASCAR of how do we go about this and how do we fix it. Unfortunately, it’s just part of the game. That’s what you have to do if everyone else is doing it.”
The ongoing challenge of superspeedway fuel-saving remains unresolved, and Blaney wishes the sport would address it more directly:
“I want that to change. I hate that that’s a thing and a topic we talk about because it takes away from the racing aspect of it. At that point, we’re not really racing. It’s just people save riding in line and waiting for the green flag stop and you hope you save more than the others and executed more than the other guys around you. And I don’t know what a fix is,” he added.
This issue has also ignited debate among fans, with some advocating for the removal of race stages to improve on-track battles and reduce the impact of fuel management. Nevertheless, NASCAR officials have stated that there is no simple solution available, leaving drivers and teams to continue grappling with these restrictive race dynamics.
Tradition and Change in NASCAR
For Ryan Blaney and many drivers, unique moments such as flying with the Thunderbirds create lasting memories that go beyond the race results, forging a connection between military tradition and motorsport culture. At the same time, the search for more competitive, engaging racing at superspeedways is likely to remain a point of discussion within NASCAR, challenging officials, teams, and drivers like Blaney to find ways that celebrate both the spectacle and the spirit of competition. As the new season continues, all eyes will be on how the sport addresses these issues while honoring the traditions drivers cherish.
🤢 "I did get sick […] I'm not afraid to say it."
Ryan @Blaney relived his first ride with the @AFThunderbirds 10 years ago, calling it "the coolest experience (he's) ever been a part of" and said he wants to do it again.
📻 Full Hour: https://t.co/MKhd9eLpQA pic.twitter.com/hw0BECRE7l
— SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Ch. 90) (@SiriusXMNASCAR) February 19, 2026
⛽ "Unfortunately it's just part of the game […] I want that to change."
Ryan @Blaney shares his thoughts on fuel saving at superspeedways.
🎧 Full Hour: https://t.co/MKhd9eLpQA pic.twitter.com/2seDkIqMRS
— SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Ch. 90) (@SiriusXMNASCAR) February 18, 2026
