Ryan Blaney is a NASCAR Cup Series stock-car racing driver from Ohio, representing Team Penske in his no. 12 Ford Mustang Dark Horse. Ryan Blaney is the son of former NASCAR racer and Sprint Racing driver, Dave Blaney. Ryan Blaney made a huge comeback after a winless season in 2022 proving his mettle in front of season champions. He also garnered a win in one of the crown jewel races this season when he won at the Coca-Cola 600. Blaney was defending his title in the 2024 season. He lost the championship race and the Cup Series title to teammate, Joey Logano in the final race of the season. Blaney finished the 2024 Cup Series as a runner up, providing Team Penske with a 1-2 finish.
Blaney started his racing career early and won his first race when he was only nine years old. He entered NASCAR in 2011 by competing in the K&N Pro Series and ARCA. His racing skills in his first year earned him praise from veterans like Kevin Harwick and Tony Stewart. His rookie season in the Cup Series began in 2016 with Wood Brothers Racing. He managed to grab many top-ten finishes and was even leading the race in Chicagoland Speedway before he lost to Martin Truex Jr. He narrowly lost to Chase Elliot for the Sunoco Rookie of the Year award.
Ryan Blaney's Championships wins
Ryan Blaney has won one championship, as of January 2025. He was the winner of the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series Championship. Blaney won three races throughout the season and went to claim a second-place finish at the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race. His victory in 2023 is also his first championship title in the NASCAR Cup Series. His 2023 championship title marked the first time Team Penske had won back-to-back Cup Series championship series in their NASCAR history.
The 2023 NASCAR championship started on a high note for Blaney, as he was achieving consistent podiums and Top-10 until his first victory at the 2023 Coca-Cola 600. The race also marked his first crown jewel victory in the Cup Series. Blaney went on to win the 2024 Great American Getaway 400 confirming his place in the NASCAR playoffs. He went on to achieve consistent finishes in the playoff races until the last race of Round of 8. Blaney won the 2023 Xfinity 500 qualifying himself for the NASCAR Championship four. In the final race of the championship, Blaney fought tooth and nail against the fellow championship four drivers. Eventually, he passed Kyle Larson with 20 laps to go, gaining second place in the race. He held onto the position while battling Ross Chastain for the lead and went on to claim the championship title.
Ryan Blaney's Championship appearances
Ryan Blaney has participated in three NASCAR championships. He has one victory and two losses in the NASCAR championship. Blaney was able to reach the Top-4 in both the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series in 2014 and the NASCAR Cup Series in 2023 and 2024 respectively. He lost the championship title in 2014, 2024 and won his first title in 2023. Blaney won his first championship appearance in the NASCAR Cup Series and lost his only championship appearance in the Truck Series.
Ryan Blaney has made a total of 10 NASCAR playoff appearances in his career, as per Racing Reference. He made his first two playoff appearances in the NASCAR Truck Series in 2013 and 2014 respectively. Blaney was unable to reach the playoffs once while racing in the Xfinity Series. He has made eight consecutive playoff appearances in the NASCAR Cup Series including the 2024 season.
Ryan Blaney's Championship appearances
| Series | Appeared | Won | Loss |
| NASCAR Cup Series | 2 (2023, 2024) | 1 | 1 |
| NASCAR Truck Series | 1 (2014) | 0 | 1 |
Ryan Blaney's Playoffs appearances
| Year | Series | Final Standings |
| 2013 | Truck Series | 6th |
| 2014 | Truck Series | 2nd |
| 2017 | Cup Series | 9th |
| 2018 | Cup Series | 10th |
| 2019 | Cup Series | 7th |
| 2020 | Cup Series | 9th |
| 2021 | Cup Series | 7th |
| 2022 | Cup Series | 8th |
| 2023 | Cup Series | 1st |
| 2024 | Cup Series | 2nd |
Also read: How many race wins does Ryan Blaney have?
FAQ's on Ryan Blaney
A. Ryan Blaney has won one NASCAR Cup Series championship, as of January 2025.
A. Dave Blaney won at the Charlotte Motor Speedway in 2006.
A. Ryan Blaney’s estimated salary is around $2 million, as of January 2025.
A. Ryan Blaney’s NASCAR career started in 2013 at the Truck series and he started racing full time in the Cup Series in 2016 with Wood Brothers Racing.
A. Ryan Blaney has never raced at a dirt track in spite of his family’s history.
