Ryan Blaney Reveals the Cup Race Loss That “Haunts Him to This Day”

Team Penske Racing driver Ryan Blaney has revealed the race he regrets losing the most in his 12-year longs Cup Series career.

Ryan Blaney Reveals the Cup Race Loss That “Haunts Him to This Day”

Ryan Blaney (via Imago)

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Team Penske Racing’s 2023 Cup Series champion Ryan Blaney is one of the most experienced racers in the current garage, as he has been racing for wins in the top division for the last 12 years. He has made 360+ starts in the premier stock car racing series but has only won 14 races ever. Out of the 340+ loses, one he still regrets a lot.

The race in question is the 2020 Daytona 500, where finished P2, just milli-seconds behind winner Denny Hamlin, owing to his wrong decision making. He is still winless in the crown jewel even and is searching for win. On the final lap of the race, Ryan Blaney helped Ryan Newman take the lead by pushing him past the No:11 Toyota.

But while the No:12 Ford was attempting to take the lead for himself, Denny Hamlin pushed Blaney, caused contact with Newman and the latter, resulting in a wild wreck. The JGR driver then outraced him to the finish line. The bad move the racer made in the event, caused the incident and also cost him a sure shot at victory. This fact still haunts him to this day, despite trying to move on many times.

The 2020 Daytona 500, I’d say, is tough. That’s the one (Ryan) Newman and I got together. We were running, coming down to the end of this race, the Daytona 500, our biggest race of the year, and I’m second coming towards the lead coming off turn four. I kind of don’t make the best move probably, not the right one, and end up not winning the race. That one haunts me to this day.

Ryan Blaney said on the Chasing Checkers podcast.

In the same conversation he admitted that the thought that if he had chosen a different option at the moment, made a better spilt second decision, the win would have been his is making him go crazy. Nowadays he used every such loses as a moment to learn from mistakes and move on easily, which he couldn’t do back in 2020.

Make a different move at the end of the race, like choose a different option, like a different lane. It’s a split-second decision, that’s why I try not to like go crazy thinking about that stuff… I try to learn from it right away, like spend half an hour on it, figure out ‘okay if you’re in this spot again’, think about this, do this, and then just move on from it.

Ryan Blaney asserted.

Ryan Blaney credits his wife for keeping him grounded

One of the biggest reasons he has been able to have a positive mindset and move forward was having his partner Gianna Tulio besides him. His wife, who will soon become a mother, always being besides him during races, travelling with him, spending time with him as he can’t stay home for long during weekends.

Ryan Blaney
Gianna Tulio and Ryan Blaney (Via IMAGO)

Here’s how busy I am through the week. The weekends I’m not home a lot. She travels a lot with me to the races, which is nice to still spend time together.

Ryan Blaney said.

Further talking about it, he admitted that Gianna understands his 36-race schedule is one of the busiest Calander any athletes has out there and that helps him navigate real life challenges. He feels lucky to have such a partner in his life.

And she took it all in stride, which was great. She was accepting of… ‘Hey, I understand you’re gone a lot, and I understand the job asks a lot of you.’ So, I got really lucky with her understanding because I don’t think everyone would.

Ryan Blaney added.

The points made by the Ford veteran is one point, as having an understanding partner makes him more productive on the race track. Now with the baby on the way, life is going to be more challenging for the Blaney family, but the understanding between them is going to make it easier to manage.

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