Ryan Blaney has been one driver in the 2022 NASCAR Cup Series season who has actively helped his teammates on the track on several occasions. The 28-year-old from Hartford Township, Ohio started his 2022 season by helping push his teammate Austin Cindric across the finish line in P1, followed by aiding teammate Joey Logano in clinching this year's title at Pheonix Raceway recently.
Blaney believes playing the 'supporting character' on the team is not something that has been consciously thought about internally in the organization. He elaborated on how team owner Roger Penske and his colleagues at the racing outfit just happened to find themselves in certain situations where he could be of help to others. The #12 Menards Ford Mustang driver also spoke on how he believes his deeds will circle round to him eventually when he needs them and said:
"I think, there's these other couple of situations like you mentioned, I was kind of a, not a bystander but I was kind of involved in the mix and somewhat of a helping party in certain situations but I feel like that kind of goes full circle. There's certain situation where I get helped out like that and maybe it's not noticed as much but it all comes full circle."
Ryan Blaney will be looking forward to the 2023 Daytona 500 to mark the start of the points season and prove his team leader capabilities after coming excruciatingly close in 2022. The Team Penske driver finished fourth behind rookie teammate Austin Cindric, who won the race.
Ryan Blaney sums up 2022 NASCAR Cup Series season
Despite logging a win in the 2022 All-Stars race and baking a significant amount of money, Team Penske's Ryan Blaney went without a win in the 2022 NASCAR Cup Series season. Wins in points-paying races eluded the #12 Menards Ford Mustang driver throughout the year, despite great performances on the track.
Blaney elaborated further on how he thinks his season went in an interview with notable NASCAR journalist Bob Pockrass and said:
"Honestly, I thought it was a pretty decent season, it's a good season it's just that the wins didn't come which was the unfortunate part but I thought that we had the speed to make it to Phoenix and if I wouldn't have messed up at Miami and Vegas I thought we could've gotten there with the speed we had. It's definitely unfortunate."
Watch Ryan Blaney try and take on the Daytona 500 next season, which is scheduled to go live on February 19th, 2023.