Ryan Blaney: “I think everybody should be a little bit more open to helping the sport out because that’s how it’s going to survive.”
Kyle Busch made some comments on NASCAR’s selection process of drivers in their marketing campaigns. Busch says he’s not sure why only the young kids are being pushed, without wins.
Those comments have sparked many responses from the young drivers who sit on the receiving end of the marketing strategy. Blaney says the driver in question is well known for saying no to requests.
At the same time, Blaney makes the point that all drivers should be doing as much as possible to help grow the sport. As he tells below, the smallest things can make the biggest difference.
Ryan Blaney on Kyle Busch
“I’ve been really fortunate to get a lot of great chances from NASCAR to go do things outside of motorsports,” Blaney stated during NASCAR media days.
“NBC and NASCAR were a big part of getting me to do the taping for the CARS voice. Logan Lucky, that was all really, from NASCAR.”
Ryan “Inside” Laney was a character voiced by Blaney in the CARS 3 film. The Disney-Pixar movie grossed $383,824,300 worldwide and was seen by millions across the globe.
“I’ve always been very open to do a lot of things they want. It’s a win, win for everybody. Even if you don’t like doing it. If some drivers were more willing to do these things, they’d get asked more, to do it. The reason I get asked to do it a lot, is because I say yes a lot.”
“I can tell you personally, he doesn’t like doing a lot of stuff. So, that’s why they don’t ask him to do a lot of stuff. So, that kinda made me upset, how he bashed that part of it. But, to each his own. If he doesn’t wanna do anything, so be it.”
“I think it is really important to have, not only young drivers, but all of NASCAR drivers — Try to be pushing to get to new demographics, of the world, to get interested in our sport.”
“That’s to everybody, it’s not just young drivers who are going to make people appeal to the sport. I think everybody should be a little bit more open to helping the sport out because that’s how it’s going to survive.”
“I’m trying to do the best that I can at it. A lot of other drivers are helping too. It’s just trying to get more and more every day.”
Creating memories
Ryan Blaney won his first race last year at Pocono Raceway. After that interview, he saw a young fan standing by the fence. He walked over and handed him the checkered flag.
After the race, that family came down to victory lane and Blaney got to meet them face to face. He’d created a lifetime NASCAR fan.
“Those little things that you can do — Give them something. Just make a memory. That’s the biggest thing, just making a memory that last for a lifetime.”
“That was a pretty cool moment.”
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