Defending Sprint Cup Series champion Tony Stewart and 2007 Daytona 500 winner Kevin Harvick are two of the more notable figures in NASCAR’s upper echelon that have noticed Ryan Blaney.

But it’s hard not to be impressed by the accomplishments of the son of their fellow competitor Dave Blaney, as he inexorably moves toward NASCAR’s premier division.

“The biggest thing I appreciated was the respect they gave me. Being my first race, they gave me a lot of respect out there — a lot of give-and-take — and that really makes you feel good as a driver, inside, especially in your first start…”
– RYAN BLANEY

Mere hours before the younger Blaney — who turned 18 years old this past New Year’s Eve — scored a moving-forward, seventh-place debut Nationwide performance last Friday night at Richmond International Raceway, Stewart was singing his praises.

“He does an awesome job,” Stewart said. “His racing family tree is pretty strong, got pretty good roots between his uncle Dale and his dad, Dave. [Ryan] does an awesome job and he’s a smart racer. He thinks about what he is doing and thinks about the scenarios he puts himself in.”

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