Ryan Blaney Shares Key Rules from His NASCAR Driver Code of Conduct

Ryan Blaney has always been one of NASCAR’s most outspoken drivers, especially when it comes to racing etiquette. With 14 wins and over 350 NASCAR Cup Series starts, Blaney has clear views on how drivers should act on the track.

He credits much of his approach to lessons passed down by his father, Dave Blaney, who made 473 career Cup starts. From a young age, Ryan was taught the importance of racing respectfully.

He remembers being scolded for aggressive moves in late models at age 13, after spinning out another driver. Dave was quick to set boundaries, making sure Ryan understood what behavior crossed the line and what was acceptable.

In today’s NASCAR, hard racing is a constant, especially as the competition gets tighter and clean passes are tough to secure. Blaney says that contact on track is inevitable in these conditions, but there’s a difference between racing hard and repeatedly causing avoidable incidents.

He believes that making a mistake once is forgivable as long as a driver learns from it, but when similar issues happen over and over, it becomes a bigger problem within the garage.

Blaney pointed to a recent example involving Carson Hocevar and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. at Nashville. The incident started a conversation about where to draw the line when it comes to aggressive maneuvers.

Blaney recounted being hit by Hocevar himself at Atlanta, stating that rear-end contact leading to a wreck means the driver behind didn’t back off. He compared this situation to what he learned as a kid, explaining that even unintentional mistakes need immediate correction if drivers want respect from their competitors.

While Blaney had some critical words for repeated offenses, he also praised emerging drivers like Hocevar for their raw speed and talent. He emphasized that everyone in the Cup Series started out aggressive, and that learning when to push and when to show restraint is part of what defines a good driver.

He challenged young racers to refine their decision-making and make adjustments when things go wrong, rather than brushing off mistakes with apologies that aren’t followed by change.

Blaney’s views on the driver code of conduct remain clear: race others the way you want to be raced and respect the unwritten boundaries that keep competition fair. He acknowledges that being tough is part of the job, but consistency and self-control separate respected veterans from drivers who develop poor reputations.

Blaney’s recent Nashville victory shows his approach can pay off, both in results and the relationships he maintains throughout the field.

Hocevar and Stenhouse have met since their Nashville dust-up and, according to Hocevar, had productive discussions that cooled tensions. Incidents like these are not uncommon, but Blaney’s insistence on learning from mistakes is echoed by many across the series.

As the season heads deeper into summer, these unwritten rules will continue to shape how the closest finishes and biggest moments unfold. For Blaney, carrying on the principles instilled by his father remains at the core of every decision behind the wheel.

Daniel Miller

Daniel Miller reports on Formula 1 Grand Prix weekends with race-day analysis, team-radio highlights, and point-standings updates. He explains power-unit upgrades, aerodynamic developments, and driver rivalries in straightforward, SEO-friendly language for a global F1 audience.