Fast Facts: Ryan Blaney



Credit: Sean Gardner/Getty Images for NASCAR

The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series crowned its seventh first-time winner at Iowa Speedway on Saturday, Sept.  15 – a driver who now happens to be the youngest winner in series history. Learn more about third-generation driver Ryan Blaney in this week’s Fast Facts.

• Ryan Blaney was born Dec. 31, 1993 in High Point, North Carolina. He’s a third-generation racer: his grandfather, Lou Blaney, was a sprint car and dirt modified champion who then became the owner of Sharon Speedway (OH). Lou’s sons Dave and Dale also enjoyed success in sprint cars, with Dave winning the 1995 World of Outlaws title before moving on to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, where he currently drives for Tommy Baldwin Racing. Dale still races sprint cars.
• Blaney's racing career began in quarter midget, winning his first feature at age nine; he then moved through the ranks of Bandoleros, Legends and Late Models - winning numerous races along the way. He was the 2011 PASS South Super Late Model Series champion, making his debut in the ARCA Racing Series as well as the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East and West that same year. In his ARCA debut, Blaney won the pole at Winchester Speedway (IN) with a track-record time of 15.837 seconds, then led 154 of 200 laps before finishing sixth after a cut tire.
• In 2012, Blaney has been very busy competing in a number of racing series: the K&N Pro Series East; PASS Super Late Model Series; Nationwide Series (Tommy Baldwin Racing and Penske Racing); and Truck Series (Brad Keselowski Racing). In his seven Nationwide Series starts this season, Blaney has four top 10 finishes including a seventh-place finish at his debut in Richmond in April. He hasn’t finished worse than 11th in his three Truck Series starts to date.
• With his win in the American Ethanol 200 at Iowa Speedway, Blaney became the youngest winner in Camping World Truck Series history (18 years, eight months, 15 days). This record was previously held in 2005 by Kyle Busch (20 years, 18 days).
• Find out more about Ryan Blaney at his website, ryanblaney.homestead.com.