Reigning NASCAR Champion Ryan Blaney’s journey to his inaugural championship in 2023 was riddled with challenges, including a couple of daunting crashes that tested the resilience of Team Penske’s #12.
The collision at Daytona, in particular, left a lasting impact on Blaney and his crew. Following a hard hit at Nashville Superspeedway earlier in the season, Blaney found himself once again confronting the barriers at the Coke Zero Sugar 400 in Daytona International Speedway.
Leading the pack into the green-white-checkered flag for the second stage’s conclusion, Blaney faced a sudden turn of events when Ty Gibbs of Joe Gibbs Racing lost control, nudging Blaney’s #12 Penske Ford into the SAFER barriers after being pushed by teammate Christopher Bell.
In the third episode of the NASCAR: Full Speed Netflix docu-series, Blaney, alongside his fiancée Gianna Tulio, revisited the heart-stopping crash. The 30-year-old recounted the frantic moments post-collision, emphasizing the brief struggle to regain composure.
Tulio, anxiously awaiting Blaney’s voice over the radio, noted his breathlessness and shaken state following the incident.
Despite the intensity of the crash, Blaney emerged unscathed, crediting the safety features of the next-gen car and its predecessors for his well-being.
The NASCAR: Full Speed docu-series chronicles the 2023 Cup Series playoffs season, culminating in Blaney’s championship triumph. The Penske team showcased resilience during the playoffs, overcoming a mid-season slump to secure two victories and the coveted title.
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Taking the spotlight in the series’ inaugural edition, Blaney humorously reflected on the timing of the OTT giant’s involvement, quipping that had Netflix joined the fray five years earlier, he might have boasted multiple championships by now.
Premiering on January 30, the five-episode series received positive feedback from fans, offering an intimate glimpse into Blaney’s championship journey.
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Frequently Asked Questions (“FAQ”)
Q: Did Dave Blaney win a NASCAR race?
Ans: Dave competed in the NASCAR Cup Series from 1992 to 2014, with 473 starts and a best points finish of 19th. He also raced in the NASCAR Busch Series, securing a victory in 2006 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Q: How long has Ryan Blaney been in NASCAR Cup?
Ans: Ryan Blaney’s NASCAR career spans 10 years, with 306 races in the Cup Series. He earned awards such as the 2013 Rookie of the Year and the 2014 Most Popular Driver in the Truck Series.
Q: How many times has Ryan Blaney won?
Ans: Ryan Blaney secured his initial victory for Team Penske in the NXS at Kentucky in 2013. Across 11 seasons, he accumulated 17 wins and 12 poles in Xfinity and Cup Series races.
Q: How much money did Ryan Blaney win?
Ans: Ryan Blaney won the NASCAR All-Star Race, earning a $1 million prize. In a dramatic finish, he nearly lost the victory but ultimately secured the win in overtime.
Q: Has William Byron won a championship?
Ans: Driving the #24 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 for Hendrick Motorsports, he clinched the 2015 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East Championship and 2016 Camping World Truck Series Rookie of the Year. Subsequently, he won both the 2017 Xfinity Series Championship and Rookie of the Year.