Ryan Blaney is the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series champion. With that title comes great responsibility and great opportunity. The Team Penske driver made it clear that he understood his mission mere minutes after winning in November when talking to reporters.
“I think it’s part of your job [as champion] to embrace it, push the sport,” Blaney said. “You have this awesome platform now to where you’ve done something incredible, use that, promote … you’re not only growing yourself, you are growing the sport of NASCAR as well.”
He’s made appearances on The Today Show and various other programs. Earlier this month at Bristol during media availability, he was asked about his role as the champion and being marketed as a superstar.
“They asked me in the offseason, like, ‘What do you want to be?’ I said, ‘I want to be Jeff Gordon of the nineties.’ He was everywhere. He was Jeff Gordon of the nineties, right? And it’s led him to where he is today and just notoriety. That’s the goal. I think that’s where everybody wants to be. We’ll see who can achieve it.”
Could Ryan Blaney Be Appearing on Saturday Night Live?
Blaney specifically mentioned being like Jeff Gordon. Gordon appeared on Saturday Night Live in 2003.
Before the March 24 race at Circuit of the Americas, I asked the 30-year-old driver if he wanted to host the popular weekend show in New York City, which has been hosted by other athletes, including Wayne Gretzky, Michael Jordan, and Derek Jeter, and, if so, how does he make it happen.
“We’ve talked about it,” Blaney admitted. “It’s a big commitment. It’s a big commitment. You got to be there all week. I’ve always said if it interferes with racing, I’m not doing it. Racing is the obvious No. 1 goal. But it’s something that I’d like to do. I would really enjoy it.
“I grew up watching Saturday Night Live and I really enjoyed it. And I remember watching Jeff on it. It was a rerun but I remember watching Jeff on it. But yeah, I think that’s great those opportunities are golden to grow the sport and grow yourself and your team and things like that. So, yeah, it’s been talked about. It’s just how do we do it.”
I don’t know how they do it but I sure hope that they somehow find a way to make it happen.