"We're excited days are closing in" - Ryan Blaney opens up about his upcoming marriage to Gianna Tulio on Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s show

Ryan Blaney, the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series champion, recently shared his thoughts on his upcoming marriage to Gianna Tulio on Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s show. Blaney expressed his enthusiasm while also admitting surprise at the extensive planning involved.

Blaney, the driver of the No. 12 Ford Mustang Dark Horse for Team Penske, is engaged to Gianna Tulio. They announced their engagement in December of last year. Tulio is a model from South Florida who was crowned Miss Hooters in 2021. She is also a designer and the cover girl for the Hooters calendar.

Here's what Blaney said:

“The days are closing in very rapidly. It’s been a fun process, and I’m excited for when it finally arrives. We’re just looking forward to enjoying the experience.”

Blaney compared the wedding preparations to organizing a major race.

“There’s so much that goes into it, almost like what a race team goes through preparing for an event. The cost side of it is eye-opening—there’s a number you want to stick to, but you’ll definitely end up spending more. It’s just how it goes.”

He said he is waiting for the big day to finally arrive and is focused on creating memorable moments for himself, his partner, and the two families.

Here's a look at the video:

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Ryan Blaney's 2024 season

The 30-year-old Ryan Blaney won his first race of the season at the Iowa Speedway. He led for 201 laps, winning in front of a sellout crowd of 40,000 at the debut Cup race track.

Ryan Blaney won his second race of the season at Pocono. After a caution on lap 132, Blaney took the lead on lap 117 and quickly moved ahead of Denny Hamlin and Alex Bowman. This victory was his 12th career win and his second at Pocono.

Blaney, who first won at Pocono in 2017, said, “So cool to win here again. The crowd was amazing. Thank you for being here all weekend.”

He added, “I feel like when you’re young and you’re getting into it, all you care about is pushing the gas pedal down and you lose focus on the end goal and the task at hand"

Drivers will next race at the Brickyard 400 in Indianapolis, which hasn't been held since 2020. He currently leads the Cup Series playoffs with two wins and 627 points.