Ryan Blaney, Team Penske Racing’s 2023 Cup Series champion, remains haunted by a critical moment from the 2020 Daytona 500, despite more than a decade of experience and over 360 starts in the top-tier stock car racing series. The exhausted regret centers on the near miss at the prestigious event, where the Ford driver finished just fractions of a second behind winner Denny Hamlin. His split-second decision on the final lap ultimately cost him a victory he has yet to reclaim, marking a pivotal event in his career that shapes his approach to racing and life.
The Race Incident That Defines Blaney’s Regret
On the last lap of the 2020 Daytona 500, Blaney found himself in a high-stakes situation. While helping teammate Ryan Newman take the lead by pushing him past Hamlin’s No. 11 Toyota, Blaney simultaneously attempted to seize the lead for himself in his No. 12 Ford. However, Hamlin’s counter-move resulted in contact between Blaney and Newman, causing a dramatic crash. Following the wreck, Hamlin surged ahead to win the race by inches. Blaney acknowledges that his mistake in choosing the wrong move at that moment cost him a shot at what could have been a breakthrough victory in NASCAR’s most celebrated race.
Reflecting on the incident, Blaney admitted the weight of that decision remains with him years later.
“The 2020 Daytona 500, I’d say, is tough. That’s the one (Ryan) Newman and I got together. We were running, coming down to the end of this race, the Daytona 500, our biggest race of the year, and I’m second coming towards the lead coming off turn four. I kind of don’t make the best move probably, not the right one, and end up not winning the race. That one haunts me to this day,”
he shared on the Chasing Checkers podcast.
Learning From Mistakes to Move Forward
Despite the lingering regret, Blaney has adopted a more constructive mindset when facing setbacks. He revealed that replaying the moment decisions made him “go crazy,” but he has since developed a process to learn quickly and move forward. Recognizing racing demands split-second choices, Blaney now tries to spend just a short time analyzing mistakes to prepare better responses for future scenarios.
He explained,
“Make a different move at the end of the race, like choose a different option, like a different lane. It’s a split-second decision, that’s why I try not to like go crazy thinking about that stuff… I try to learn from it right away, like spend half an hour on it, figure out ‘okay if you’re in this spot again’, think about this, do this, and then just move on from it.”
Support from His Wife Keeps Him Grounded
An essential factor helping Blaney cope with the pressures of racing and personal setbacks is his wife, Gianna Tulio. With a demanding schedule that sees him away for many weekends each year, Gianna’s ongoing support and understanding have been integral to his mental resilience. As Blaney prepares for fatherhood, he credits his partner’s presence and patience for enabling him to maintain focus during intense competition and manage the challenges of life on the road.
Blaney described their dynamic, saying,
“Here’s how busy I am through the week. The weekends I’m not home a lot. She travels a lot with me to the races, which is nice to still spend time together.”
He further reflected on her role in accepting the demands of his career:
“And she took it all in stride, which was great. She was accepting of… ‘Hey, I understand you’re gone a lot, and I understand the job asks a lot of you.’ So, I got really lucky with her understanding because I don’t think everyone would.”
The Broader Impact of Blaney’s Experience
Ryan Blaney’s transparency about the 2020 Daytona 500 regret sheds light on the intense pressures that professional race car drivers face in critical moments. His career, shaped by both victories and painful near-misses, illustrates how athletes grapple with the fine margins between success and disappointment. With a record that includes 14 wins but no Daytona 500 victory yet, Blaney continues to pursue the elusive crowning achievement throughout his seasons.
The relationship with his wife and his evolving approach to managing regret suggest a balanced perspective that may serve him well in future high-stakes situations. As the Blaney family prepares to welcome a new baby, the ability to draw strength from his support system and to learn rapidly from mistakes will be crucial. For fans and competitors alike, Blaney’s story underscores how the intense moments on the track resonate far beyond the finish line, influencing personal growth and career trajectories.