Ryan Blaney is looking forward to the return of the iconic Bowman Gray Stadium for the 2025 NASCAR Cup season opening event.
The 2025 season’s first race, the Busch Light Clash, will be the first major stock car race at this historic venue in 53 years.
As a child, Blaney raced at Bowman Gray, and he has revealed a hilarious moment when a seven-year-old fan flipped him off after one of his races there.
Ryan Blaney grew up in a family steeped in racing history. Grandfather Lou Blaney was a legend on dirt tracks, and his father Dave Blaney raced in NASCAR. These family ties heavily influenced his own journey in racing. Even as a young boy, Blaney was drawn to the sport, hitting the tracks at just eight years old. Small, short tracks like Martinsville and Bristol remain his favorites.
Bowman Gray, with its storied history dating back to 1956, holds a special place in his heart. Blaney remembers a particular race at the stadium when he was just ten. He recalls a fan’s funny gesture that made him realize the passion and intensity of the crowds at Bowman Gray.
Ryan Blaney, driver of the #12 Menards/RichmondWaterHeater Ford, waits in the garage area during practice for the NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race at Phoenix Raceway on November 08, 2024 in Avondale, Arizona. Ryan Blaney reveals… Ryan Blaney, driver of the #12 Menards/RichmondWaterHeater Ford, waits in the garage area during practice for the NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race at Phoenix Raceway on November 08, 2024 in Avondale, Arizona. Ryan Blaney reveals hilarious Bowman Gray Stadium story ahead of the track’s return to NASCAR. More Chris Graythen/Getty Images
During an interview with Sportsnaut, Blaney explained: