Ryan Blaney heats up with second Cup Series win in five races
Ryan Blaney still feels like the “silly, quiet kid” he was at 23 when he blazed past Kevin Harvick and Kyle Busch over the final 10 laps at Pocono Raceway in 2017 to win a NASCAR Cup Series race for the first time.
At times, not much in life has changed for Blaney.
“I still drink a lot of beer,” Blaney said, before waiting a beat to add, “probably more.”
Blaney chuckled at the thought, but the reality is that at least at the track, he has long outgrown the mold of a rising star in stock car racing. At 30, he’s a certified one as a NASCAR champion and serves as a bit of an elder statesman, having promoted the sport this past week coast to coast with media appearances from the ESPY Awards to NBC’s “Today” show.
“I’ve just been fortunate to be on a cool journey,” Blaney said.
His celebrity profile may have mushroomed, but the only journey that really matters in NASCAR is the one to victory lane. Blaney led the final 44 laps and won again Sunday at Pocono, his second victory in the past five races this season.
“I feel like the last two months, we’ve been spectacular,” Blaney said.
So has Team Penske. On any track. In any series.
Blaney made it a weekend sweep for the iconic motorsports organization after Scott McLaughlin earlier Sunday and Will Power on Saturday night won IndyCar Series races at Iowa Speedway for 87-year-old team owner Roger Penske.
