332 - Dave & Ryan Blaney: Can’t Have a Plan

Dale Earnhardt Jr. invites father-son duo Dave and Ryan Blaney to the table to learn more about the Blaney racing legacy and hear about Ryan’s Cup Series victory on Sunday at Atlanta Motor Speedway. First, Dale Jr. and co-host Mike Davis address an eventful Xfinity Series race for JR Motorsports in Atlanta. Commenting publicly for the first-time following Noah Gragson backing into Daniel Hemric’s car on pit road and his team’s involvement in a post-race altercation, Dale explains his stance exclusively on the Download. He shares his reaction to both cars over shooting their pit stall late in Saturday’s race and the actions each team took to complete the pit stop. Was it done intentionally? Hear what Dale thinks, what he said to Noah and how he felt hearing Gragson’s jab at Hemric after the fight. Plus, co-team owner Dale shares more insight into the 22-year-old’s approach to racing and how Noah reacts to controversial situations. This and more from Atlanta including his thoughts on Justin Allgaier’s impressive win and Josh Berry’s car being destroyed by the grass. There’s no better time to be joined by the Blaney’s than following Ryan’s first win of 2021. He shares how he enjoyed it and why the focus is shifting quicker than usual to the next cup race. Dave’s father Lou Blaney was the first Blaney to climb behind the wheel of a race car. Hear how his interest in racing started and how it blazed a trail for his family. Did you know a Blaney was drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers? Hear the story of how Dave’s brother Dale turned away from a professional basketball career to race. As a Sprint Car Hall of Fame member, Dave’s most success in racing came in a sprint car. Hear him reminisce on his biggest triumphs on the World of Outlaws tour and how the demanding schedule kept him away from home and his young children. When Ryan showed an interest in racing, Dave was ready to teach his son the ropes. However, it wasn’t always a pleasant experience. Find out how hard Dave pushed Ryan and what Ryan thought of his dad’s approach. Not every driver that races has the “it” factor. However, Ryan does and Dave noticed it early on. He tells the story of the night when he knew Ryan could make a career in racing. During his 2012 Xfinity Series debut race at Richmond, Ryan’s strong run put him on the industry’s radar. Hear what Dale noticed about him in that race and how it ended up leading to conversations and opportunities with Team Penske and Brad Keselowski. Many remember Dave leading when the 2012 Daytona 500 went under a red flag following the jet fuel fire. Dale and Dave laugh about that night and reflect on the bizarre situation, and how it almost handed Dave the victory. In his 2019 appearance on the podcast, Ryan admitted he got a speeding ticket and never told his dad. Well, he rehashes the story on this episode and we hear Dave’s reaction for the first time. What did Ryan experience after spinning Dale Jr. out at Martinsville in 2017? He shares what fans said to him leaving the track that day and Dale can’t believe it. Lastly, heading into the Bristol dirt race, the table discusses their expectations, the length of the event and track changes that fans should expect on Sunday. Dave leaves us with funny stories about what Dale Jr. and Dale Sr. have said to him after a couple of run-ins with both of them respectively. In Ask Jr. presented by Xfinity, Dale shares his experience broadcasting the 12 Hours of Sebring and why T.J. Majors is surprisingly stronger than he looks.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices