“I wish Gianna was here”: Ryan Blaney looks back on winning in front of loved ones at Iowa

Winning at Iowa Speedway was special for reigning Cup Series champion Ryan Blaney for several reasons. However, what mattered the most to the Team Penske driver was that his family watched him grab the checkered flag at the short-track oval in Newton, Iowa.

Ryan Blaney is in his eighth full-time season in the Cup Series and his sixth for Team Penske. He is an eleven-time Cup Series winner with victories in the coveted Coca-Cola 600 and the NASCAR All-Star Race. The Hartford native has seven wins in the NASCAR Xfinity Series besides four in the Craftsman Truck Series.

The Ford pilot was elated to have his friends and family witness his Cup Series win at the 0.875-mile racetrack. Reflecting on the same, in a post-race press conference, the 30-year-old said: (9:42)

"I’m pretty fortunate to have a family and friends from here that are so supportive. That part is cool. I’m happy we got them all across the racetrack to get them to Victory Lane. They all made shirts. It was cool. Very special. I wish Gianna (Tulio) was here. Having all them support me is awesome."

As reported by NASCAR, 85 members of his family, including his friends, cheered for Blaney on Sunday. Seated on the grandstands, each one of them had identical gray tee-shirts that read, "Ryan Blaney Iowa Crew."

The victory at Iowa Speedway locked Ryan Blaney into the 2024 playoff rumble. As of today, Blaney is seventh in the Cup Series point standings with 501 points to his name. He has led 345 laps and amassed five top 5s and seven top 10s this season.

Ryan Blaney shares a unique connection with Iowa

Ryan Blaney was the first and also the then-youngest driver to win a Truck Series race at Iowa in 2012. He also won the first Xfinity Series race at Iowa in 2015. Needless to say, his family was there to support him back then as well.

"It means a lot. Had tons of family here," Blaney said of his family. "My mom is from right down the road. We spend a lot of time here in Chariton and Ankeny. Cool to have them all support me. They were here in 2012 when I won my first Truck race. They were here in 2015 when I won the Xfinity race, and tonight. Cool to have a family like that."

Blaney's mother Lisa hails from Chariton, which is a one-hour drive from Des Moines, the capital of Iowa. His father Dave Blaney is a former racer, who won the Knoxville Nationals at Knoxville Raceway, Iowa, in 1997. Therefore, Blaney does have familial ties with Iowa.

Blaney now eyes the USA Today 301, which is also the 18th race of the season. The event will roll out at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on June 23 at 2:30 p.m. ET and can be watched live on the USA Network and Peacock with radio updates on PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR radio.