Ryan Blaney has flattered many in NASCAR this season. The 19-year-old was sworn into the sport by his father Dave Blaney and eventually hooked a ride with Brad Keselowski Racing in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.
The 2013 expectations were certainly set higher for Blaney as he had the past knowledge. They were accomplished after he won at Kentucky Speedway in June, and beat out Darrell Wallace Jr. and Jeb Burton to win the Sunoco Rookie of The Year award.
By winning ROY Blaney becomes the youngest driver to win the award at 19-years-old.
“I knew going into this year with Jeb and Darrell and German running, it was going to be really tough,” Blaney said. “All the rookie guys this year were really good, really good drivers and in really good equipment. And when you combine the two, it has good results.”
Blaney clinched the award at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Friday. Despite being outlasted by Kyle Busch in the closing lap, Blaney made a hard charge to finish second. Burton finished third after rebounding from hitting the wall.
“It just didn’t work out, man, but it was cool to race back up through there,” Burton said. “I mean, we passed 22 cars in five laps. We were digging, about seemed like six-wide. That’s what it’s about.”
Both Blaney and Burton with a lot of legacy to their name will return to the CWTS next season, remaining with the same teams. They won’t be racing for the ROY award; they’ll be chasing the elusive CWTS championship.
“It feels good,” Blaney said. “It’s always nice to know your plans for next season before the offseason. You know, you kind of relax and really have fun with your guys to try to practice up for next year, so I think we’re just going to come back 10 times stronger next year.”
Most of Blaney’s success was met inside the CWTS ranks but in Kentucky Speedway during the NASCAR Nationwide Series event he met yet another milestone. He took Roger Penske’s No. 22 Ford to victory lane earning himself his first NNS win.
