Lou Blaney, Dave Blaney and now introducing ... Ryan Blaney
Here comes the son of Dave Blaney
He won his first competitive race in a quarter midget at the age of 9 years old. Ryan ran in Bandeleros in 2004, Quarter Midgets again in 2006 and moved up to Legends Cars in 2007. Ryan was also crowned the Gasoline Alley Champion last year in the Quarter Midgets.
He is following in his dad's footstep and taking the next step ... stock cars.
Fourteen-year-old Ryan Blaney will be racing in his first stock car race this Saturday night in a super late model car at Orange County Speedway in North Carolina.
I stumbled upon young Ryan and Dave Blaney speaking with the Dave Blaney Fan Show on May 14, 2008. It is a great fifteen minute segment with both of the Blaneys. Ryan talks about practicing his new late model car on the asphalt and says the car is stable, fun, bigger and faster. You can hear the interview here: http://quickestlap.com/radio.htm.
Ryan raced a legend car at Bristol this year down pit road and apron. "It was lots of fun, it was good experience."
Dave Blaney speaks with the show following his son's interview about his team, the new COT, and the information sharing between the Toyota teams. Dave and Ryan address Ryan's schedule for this year and stated that Ryan will be running in the late model series, but will be running Quarter Midgets more than anything else this year.
Emma Blaney, Dave Blaney's daughter, also has racing in her blood racing quarter midget herself in the past, but has shifted her focus to basketball for now.
It seems Ryan has his sights sets on NASCAR, as shown in this quote today on www.lowemotorspeedway.com:
"I have always enjoyed getting to go to the races," said Blaney, who started driving race cars when he was 7. "Racing is really fun. I love the competition and the thrill of the speed. It's really addicting when you get into it."
Blaney, who hopes to eventually compete in the NASCAR Cup Series, understands there is a lot he can learn from his father's racing experience.
"My dad teaches me a lot about racing, like throttle-control and how much brake to use," said Blaney. "He's raced a lot of different types of cars in a lot of different places, so he knows what he's talking about."
In addition to a racing legacy to live up to, I'm sure Ryan will one day have his stake in Sharon Speedway in Hartford, CT, which the Blaney family purchased in 2001. It is a 3/8 mile dirt track that the Blaney family has a history with and it is their passion.
Good luck Ryan Blaney, and we will be looking for you in NASCAR real soon!
