Ryan Blaney is a prominent American stock car racer and third-generation driver in NASCAR, son of former Cup Series competitor Dave Blaney and grandson of dirt track legend Lou Blaney.[1][3][5] He drives the No. 12 Ford Mustang for Team Penske in the NASCAR Cup Series, where he has established a reputation for consistency, resilience, and clutch performances.[1][2] Blaney's career began in youth racing with quarter midgets, Bandoleros, and late models, progressing to NASCAR's lower series in 2011. He debuted in the ARCA Menards Series, K&N Pro Series, Truck Series, and Xfinity Series, earning Rookie of the Year in the Truck Series in 2013 with Brad Keselowski Racing while finishing sixth in points.[1][3] Joining Team Penske part-time in 2012 and full-time in the Cup Series in 2018, he has never finished outside the top 10 in final standings since 2017, securing his first Cup win at Pocono Raceway in 2017 with Wood Brothers Racing.[1][2][3][4] Key achievements include his 2023 NASCAR Cup Series championship—Team Penske's fourth—with a dramatic playoff run featuring wins at Talladega, Martinsville, and the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte, ending with a second-place finish at Phoenix Raceway.[1][2][4] He also won the 2022 All-Star Race at Texas, leading 84 laps for a $1 million prize, and the inaugural Cup race at Iowa Speedway.[1][2] In 2024, Blaney finished second in points to teammate Joey Logano, nearly securing back-to-back titles.[3] Currently, Blaney remains a top contender for Team Penske, valued for his strategic insight and adaptability in high-stakes races like playoffs and short tracks reminiscent of his dirt roots.[1][6] His nine Cup wins and status as a champion before age 30 underscore his elite standing in motorsports.[4][7]