MORE: Steve Phelps explains NASCAR’s marketing strategy
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Ryan Blaney wasted no time responding to Kyle Busch’s critical comments on the emphasis of NASCAR marketing its young stars, firing back Wednesday during the NASCAR Media Tour Presented by Charlotte Motor Speedway.
“I feel like if some drivers were more willing to do these things, they’d get asked more to do it,” Blaney said. “And the reason why I get asked to do it a lot is because I say yes a lot, because I think it’s good for the sport and myself. I can tell you personally, (Busch) doesn’t like doing a lot of stuff, so they don’t ask him.
“So that kind of made me upset, how he bashed that part of it. But, to each his own. If he doesn’t want to do anything, so be it.”
Blaney’s comments are in response to Busch, the 2015 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series champion, saying in part Tuesday that “pushing these younger drivers is, I wouldn’t say, all that fair.”
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Steve Phelps, NASCAR’s executive vice president and chief global sales and marketing officer, called into to SiriusXM NASCAR Radio’s “SiriusXM Speedway” program Wednesday afternoon to discuss the sanctioning body’s marketing efforts.
“It’s about our drivers, our crew chiefs and our crews and everyone that makes this sport go,” Phelps said. “The drivers really start with our veteran drivers, Hall of Fame drivers like Jimmie Johnson, Kevin Harvick, Kyle Busch, Martin Truex Jr., Brad Keselowski and Joey Logano. All these guys are such an important part of everything that we do and should be. But we are also need to expose these young drivers so our fans understand who they are, they’re authentic, they want to win on the race track and they’re just fantastic drivers. It’s a mix of veterans and young guys.”
Blaney has been known to do unique things to reach fans and build a following as a young driver, first with Wood Brothers Racing in the No. 21 Ford and now with Team Penske in the No. 12 Ford.
The 24-year-old hosted the “Glass Case of Emotion” podcast on NASCAR.com and interacts regularly with fans on social media. He has appeared on Bravo’s “Watch What Happens Live” and an upcoming episode of NBC’s “Taken,” as well as providing a voice to a character in “Cars 3.” He also hosted a pizza party at Texas Motor Speedway during a break in the January testing session. Blaney said he is looking to have more spontaneous interaction with fans as the year progresses.
“I’ve been really fortunate to get a lot of great chances from NASCAR, and … I’ve always been very open to do a lot of things they want,” Blaney said. ” … I think it is really important to have not only young drivers, but all NASCAR drivers try to be pushing to get to new demographics of the world to get into in the sport. I think everybody should be a little more open to helping the sport out.”
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One example: Following a win in the September Xfinity Series race at Dover International Speedway, Blaney gave the checkered flag to a young fan, who later came down to Victory Lane at the “Monster Mile.”
“I feel like those little things that you can do to get face-to-face with young fans and making a moment and give them something and just make a memory that lasts a lifetime,” Blaney said.
Having interaction with fans was something ingrained in Blaney as a child from watching his father and fellow racer, Dave Blaney.
“My dad was always very open to fans and I appreciated that about him,” Blaney said. “He was always very welcoming to fans.
“NASCAR doesn’t exist without fans, people who are interested in it. Anything we can do to show appreciation I feel like is part of our job to do it. Whatever we can do to show them a good time or an experience unlike what they expected is something that really sticks with people for life.”
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Dale Earnhardt Jr., a 15-time NMPA Most Popular Driver Award winner, has frequently cited and praised Blaney for his creative approach to helping the sport grow.
“I’d rather make other people happy than myself,” Blaney said of saying “yes” to numerous appearances. “And if I have to sacrifice time, it’s just time. It really doesn’t mean much to me personally. I’d rather go do something meaningful to the sport than just sit on my couch because then I just don’t feel like I’m doing anything.
“There’s always more you can do. You are never maxed out on your potential to make somebody’s day.”