NASCAR insider brands Ryan Blaney as a “short-track master” after an impressive Bowman Gray race
Team Penske Racing driver Ryan Blaney was branded as a short-track racing master by NASCAR insider Jeff Gluck.
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Ryan Blaney (Via @Blaney/X0
The 2025 season got the perfect start with an impressive Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium, with Hendrick Motorsports Chase Elliott winning the race leading a record 171 laps. Though he won the race, he wasn’t clearly the best performing racer of the day as that title goes to 2023 Cup champion Ryan Blaney who finished P2.
The Team Penske racer had the worst start to the weekend, after he missed out on qualifying in the heat race and the last chance qualifying race. Ryan Blaney got in because of provision for the highest point finisher that didn’t qualify. But he was able to redeem himself racing himself from P23 to P2, without making any dirty moves. Senior NASCAR journalist Jeff Gluck was really impressed with the No:12 teams run.
Ryan Blaney made even a more impressive statement, though, to be honest with you. 23rd to second on a track that’s pretty hard to pass. He used the bumper, but he wasn’t like slamming into people. It wasn’t just moving people out of the way. It was slick, smooth, short-track passing.
Jeff Gluck said via The Teardown podcast.
Great run for our 12-Team to work our way from last to runner-up. Looking forward to Daytona. pic.twitter.com/czfKihZ0CB
— Ryan Blaney (@Blaney) February 3, 2025
This clean race was enough for Gluck to name Blaney a short-track master as he has been elite on the short track races over the last few seasons. He highlighted how the Ford driver passed rivals lap after lap to secure the top 5 finish.
Blaney is like the short-track master at this point. He is just so elite. …You just look at the ability he has to get around this place and position his car lap after lap the way he wants to do it. …It was really impressive just lap after lap trying to nail that line. Just being able to start from the back like that and drive through the field, that was really something.
Jeff Gluck added.
Insider reveals how Ryan Blaney has become a more consistent racer
Jeff Gluck’s co-host Jordan Bianchi also shared his feelings about the impressive race from the former champion. He highlighted how Blaney has evolved over the years from a racer that showed signs of elite speed on short track on the track to now becoming super consistent.
To me, this is a continuation of Ryan Blaney that we saw really take form in 2023 en route to his winning the Cup Series Championship. Before that, it was a Blaney that at times showed great speed but couldn’t necessarily close the deal. And now, we don’t talk about that anymore.
Jordan Bianchi said.
The comments from the two senior media personals shows how much Ryan Blaney have grown as a racer over the years and how hard he has worked had to become a champion. It would be interesting to see how the No:12 would still perform in the 2025 season.
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Justin P Joy
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