“He gave me my first chance in NASCAR”: Ryan Blaney expresses gratitude towards Brad Keselowski after Martinsville win

After Martinsville, Ryan Blaney joined Joey Logano along with William Byron and Tyler Reddick in the Championship 4. During the post-race presser, he thanked BK Racing for giving him his first shot in stock racing.

Besides his obvious connection with teammate Joey Logano, there's one other driver in the Final 4 lineup Blaney has a connection with - Tyler Reddick. Both Blaney and Reddick once raced for the same team in the Truck Series, Brad Keselowski Racing. Blaney raced in Brad Keselowski's team from 2012 until 2015, earning four wins, while Reddick ran from 2014 to 2016, getting three wins to his name.

This commonality between the two championship contenders this season was presented to Ryan Blaney after his win at Martinsville. The Penske driver was asked if he ever thought back during his Truck Series days that he'd be competing for a Cup title with a teammate of his from that time.

"No. I mean, I hoped it would happen. I just hoped at that time to get to the Cup Series and drive for Penske, be able to do something. I think it just shows Brad’s program there. There’s been a lot of great, great drivers that have come through that. I was really fortunate to be part of it. Between myself, Tyler Reddick, Ross Chastain, Daniel Hemric, Austin Cindric was part of that. There’s pedigree over there. BKR was amazing. I owe Brad a lot. He gave me my first chance in NASCAR with BKR and Team Penske," Blaney said (via SpeedwayDigest).

He remarked that it was neat to have that connection with Reddick, but he could've never thought of this moment back then. Deeming it a 'dream come true', Blaney claimed he was lucky with the trust and faith he received from those around him.

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Ryan Blaney deemed his then-boss Brad Keselowski as one of the drivers his future children could look up to

During his Truck Series days in 2014, when he was only 21 years old, Ryan Blaney was asked by Jeff Gluck about a current driver he believes to be a good example for his kids. Blaney's first response was Hendrick Motorsports' Jimmie Johnson, who by 2014 was already a 6x Cup champion.

For the young Ryan Blaney, the #48 driver was 'a great guy' as he put Carl Edwards in the same category as well. He then proceeded to speak about his then-boss Brad Keselowski, saying (as quoted by USA Today):

"Brad (Keselowski) can be very influential to children too, I think. He's a philosopher, I guess you could say. But kids my age? If we all make it and have kids someday, I grew up with Chase Elliott and raced with him, and he comes from a great family."

Praising Chase Eliott as 'a great guy', Blaney also said he could see glimpses of Jimmie Johnson in the Dawsonville native.