When the Super DIRTcar Series visits Sharon Speedway, it’ll be a homecoming for NASCAR champion Ryan Blaney.
The Hartford, OH driver will join Series announcer Mike Warren on the DIRTVision broadcast for the Steel Valley 75 presented by Capital Renegade Custom Coaches on Monday, Aug. 11.
Blaney, who owns Sharon Speedway along with his dad, NASCAR and dirt racing icon Dave Blaney, and Will Thomas III, said he’s excited to see the Super DIRTcar Series return to the 3/8-mile track. It’s the same Series where his grandfather, Lou, earned 19 Feature victories, including eight at the Ohio facility.
“Sharon has been a big part of my life for a long time,” Blaney said. “When that ownership role became an opportunity, I was really happy to be a part of it. My grandfather’s ties to Big Blocks and stuff like that was how he built his racing lore, so I’m really excited they’re coming back.
“I’m really excited to be there and be able to watch in person. It should be a good time. I always love watching Big Block racing.”
Despite his grandfather and dad racing dirt, it wasn’t something Ryan did a lot of early in his career. But because of his family ties, he always paid attention to it.
“It’s fascinating to me, it’s what my family did for the majority of their career,” Blaney said. “My grandpa dirt raced and my dad, that’s how he got started, was a great Sprint Car driver and a [World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series] champion.
“So even though I didn’t do much of it, I always paid attention to it because it had big family ties to me. It has a special place in my heart, and I always love watching it. I love motorsports in general; I watch a lot of different forms of racing. But the dirt stuff has a close family tie to me.”
It wasn’t all asphalt racing for the third-generation driver, though. Back in 2012, Blaney ran a Modified race at Outlaw Speedway, then known as Black Rock Speedway. It was a celebrity race where he drove Brady Fultz’s No. 70 car to victory.
“I was in it, my dad was in it, and there was a handful of other NASCAR guys in it,” Blaney said. “(Ken) Schrader, Kenny Wallace, there were other guys in it and other dirt racers, too. I beat Dad in that race. We ran [first and second]. I kind of had a leg up on him. I started on the pole, and he started last, and he almost passed me coming to the line.
“That was a lot of fun. I remember that night, and it was cool to be able to race against dad and other guys I enjoyed watching growing up, too.”
He’s also gotten the chance to witness the most significant race on the Super DIRTcar Series schedule, the Billy Whittaker Cars 200. His dad, Dave, made 22 starts at the New York State Fairgrounds in Syracuse, including 11 in a Big Block, where he finished second three times.
“I went up there one year when I was a teenager,” Blaney said. “I was able to experience it. That was a cool experience. The Big Block stuff is just so unique. I remember seeing a couple of cars that my dad built for grandpa back in the day, and I was just fascinated by them. I do remember Dad running, and I thought it was the coolest thing ever.”
While he’s made a few starts on dirt and watched his dad and grandfather race, the Steel Valley 75 at Sharon will give Blaney a different perspective of the action. He’ll have the opportunity to provide his insight during the DIRTVision broadcast on what it’s like to race on the track, even though his last start at Sharon was during an SRX Race in 2022.
However, he does have previous experience, entering the booth on occasion to broadcast NASCAR Xfinity Series races, and more.
“I enjoy it,” Blaney said. “It’s different. I like to do two or three a year or so from Truck or Xfinity. I’ll even jump in an ARCA booth. It’s just a different perspective, and if I can give a little of my insight, especially if we’re at the track I’m racing at that weekend, it’s something I like to just bring to the table. Hopefully, the fans enjoy that.”
Blaney will join Mike Warren and Rich Vleck on the broadcast when the Super DIRTcar Series visits Sharon Speedway on Monday, Aug. 11, for the Steel Valley 75 presented by Capital Renegade Custom Coaches.
The Feature will pay $10,000-to-win and offer a guaranteed starting spot at Super DIRT Week 53.
If you can’t make it to the track, watch all the action live on DIRTVision, either online or with the DIRTVision app.
