Tag: Ryan Blaney

14 questions with Ryan Blaney, NASCAR’s biggest ‘Star Wars’ fan

We spoke with NASCAR driver/aspiring Jedi Ryan Blaney about all things Star Wars.

Ryan Blaney is, unquestionably, the biggest Star Wars fanatic in the NASCAR garage, and his love for the franchise is well-documented.

The 26-year-old Team Penske driver is a self-described “aspiring Jedi,” he can rapidly recount the movie plots with an impressive amount of detail and, last Halloween, he donned a fabulously detailed Princess Leia costume, complete with everything except a pal to be Jabba the Hutt.

Plus, he has a massive Star Wars tattoo on his leg, covering nearly the entire front of his thigh. The top part of it is a portrait of Darth Vader (Death Star included), and the bottom part closer to his knee appears to be an image of Vader battling with Obi-Wan Kenobi.

And when the No. 12 Ford driver got the chance to go to Disney World in the days before the Daytona 500 last month and visit the Star Wars-themed area Galaxy’s Edge, he said he “couldn’t say yes fast enough.” On his journey to become a Jedi, Blaney made a green lightsaber to take home and rode the rides, the Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run and Rise of the Resistance. He said the whole experience was “awesome.”

So, For The Win recently spoke with Blaney about all things Star Wars, from his favorite (and least favorite) characters to the The Rise of Skywalker to what makes The Empire Strikes Back so incredible.

This very nerdy interview has been condensed and edited for clarity.

1. Which Star Wars movie is the best by itself?

Empire.

2. How do you rank the three Star Wars trilogies?

I think the originals first, and then, hmmm, I think the newer one is second and then the prequels third.

It sounds like that was a tough call between the prequel and sequel trilogies.

So Phantom Menace is the first one I ever saw, Episode I, when I was like seven. So that is always really close to first for me because it has a lot of memories as far as my first one, but it’s second after Empire [in terms of movies ranked].

That’s my favorite of the prequels because I was a big Darth Maul fan, and it was the first one I saw as a kid and you always remember that. I didn’t see Empire until I was older and because my parents weren’t Star Wars fans. So they didn’t tell me about these things, so I had to find out on my own.

3. What did you think of The Rise of Skywalker?

I thought it was OK. There were a couple things I didn’t like in it, but I thought they ended it pretty decently. They closed a couple gaps that they needed to close. Overall, I thought it was pretty good. I know people were giving it a hard time, but I enjoyed it. Either you like it or you don’t.

And I think some of the original Star Wars fans are like, “Oh, these movies are terrible!” But I like all of them. They’re all different eras. You’ve got the originals from the ‘70s and ‘80s and the prequels in ‘99 and early 2000s, and then these. It’s pretty cool to see the differences in all of them. Whether you like them or not, I think it’s cool just to be along for the ride.

4. Who’s the best Star Wars character?

Oh, I’m in love with Rey.

She’s the best character in the whole franchise?

Well, she’s my favorite. The best character is — I don’t know.

I was a big Darth Maul fan because he was such a cool villain, and I was hoping he was around more. They brought him back in the Clone Wars and the animated stuff, but he was cool. I had a Darth Maul lightsaber as a kid.

5. Who’s the worst character?

Jar-Jar Binks.

Editor’s note: Obviously.

6. Who’s the best non-human character?

I like Admiral Ackbar. The way he talks is funny, and he’s a pretty funny looking dude.

7. Where do you stand on Ewoks?

I think they’re cool. I don’t mind them. They helped out a lot. They had sticks, and they did good.

8. In the famous cantina scene in A New Hope, did Han shoot Greedo first?

I think he did because he shot him. He got him.

[Pauses for a moment.]

Yeah, I think he shot first. He wasn’t taking any chances.

9. Why do you think stormtroopers are such bad shots?

Can’t see out of them helmets, man. You’ve got like this much vision [fingers slightly apart]. And think of any movie where the bad guys are sharpshooters. It’s terrible. They have no sights on their weapons. They’re just shooting wildly in the air.

But I’m going to blame the helmets on that. Can’t see nothing out of them.

10. Is there a scene or line you always find yourself quoting?

I don’t quote it all the time, but [in The Empire Strikes Back] when Han is getting frozen in carbonite, Leia says, “I love you.” And he’s like, “I know.” So whenever anyone gives me a compliment, I just say, “I know.” It’s not the exact line, but you know.

I like the second time we get that in Return of the Jedi when she Solos him back.

Oh, yeah!

11. Is there any scene or moment that still gives you goosebumps?

So, it’s tough, right? I saw the prequels first before I saw the originals just with the timeline I was born. So when I got to the, “I am your father” line, I already knew. So that part is still a great line, but you already know it’s coming.

I can’t imagine for the people that were seeing the original back then, and they dropped that line, and they’re like, “Bombshell drop!” But that one always is pretty cool.

That, or in Phantom Menace when Qui-Gon Jinn gets killed. I remember watching that as a kid and was so distraught. I was like, “Man, you killed Liam Neeson, man. That’s nuts.”

12. Have you seen The Mandalorian yet?

Not yet. I’ve gotta figure it out because my house, I have satellite internet. HughesNet, it’s terrible, so I can’t stream anything. So I have to try to find a way to get it on my iPad.

Dude, what?

But I’ve heard good things about it.

13. Well I wanted to ask you about Baby Yoda. Like, is Baby Yoda a baby?

BABY YODA (Disney Plus via AP)
BABY YODA (Disney Plus via AP)

I’ve only seen the pictures and stuff, but I think he’s like a teenager in that one. Yoda when he dies is like 900 years old. I would say he’s like early 30s, not in his years but in human years. OK, let’s go in his years. I’d say he’s maybe 50 years old, 80 years old, something like that.

14. Is there one movie you rewatch more than others?

Empire never gets old because it’s dark and weird, and it’s pretty cool. That’s one I probably watch the most. I have big box sets, and I probably throw that one on the most.

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NASCAR Betting: Pennzoil 400 odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series Pennzoil 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, with NASCAR betting odds, picks and best bets

The NASCAR Cup Series moves to the Las Vegas Motor Speedway Sunday afternoon for the Pennzoil 400 at 3:30 p.m. ET. Below, we analyze the Pennzoil 400 betting odds and lines, with NASCAR picks and tips.

The weather won’t be a problem like it was in Daytona last weekend, when a surprise rain storm ended up pushing the race to Monday. The haulers had one less day to travel across the country, subsequently canceling the mid-week hauler parade down The Strip, but the cars and drivers will be ready to go Sunday with no interruptions.

Who is going to win the 2020 Pennzoil 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway?

Odds courtesy of BetMGM; access them at USA TODAY Sports for a full list. Odds last updated Friday at 3:30 p.m. ET.

The winner of the most recent Cup race at Vegas, Joe Gibbs Racing driver Martin Truex Jr. (+550), is among the favorites at this race. Only Vegas-born driver and teammate Kyle Busch (+500) and Stewart-Haas Racing’s Kevin Harvick (+500) have shorter odds.

MTJ has posted two wins in 16 career starts in Vegas, with five top-5 showings and eight top-10 finishes with a 10.9 Average-Finish Position (AFP). He’ll be a very popular selection this weekend. Truex also tops the charts with a 123.8 Driver Rating across the past five starts in Vegas, according to NASCAR’s Loop Data. Busch has a win in 17 career starts, posting nine top-10 showings and a 12.7 AFP.

New to sports betting? A successful $10 wager on Truex to win would return a profit of $55.

Looking to place a bet on this race or other motorsports? Get some action in the NASCAR race through BetMGM. Sign up and bet at BetMGM now!

Penske Racing driver Joey Logano (+700) will also be a pick many gravitate toward, as he has a 5.0 AFP and 116.8 Driver Rating across his past five starts at LVMS while running a circuit-best 95.4 percent of his laps inside the Top 15 during the impressive span. He also has eight consecutive top-10 showings at the track.

Logano’s teammate Brad Keselowski (+600) is also a solid play, as he has three straight finishes of third or best at Vegas, including a win. He is a nice selection to finish in the Top 3 (+150).

2020 Pennzoil 400 longshot bets

Keselowski and Logano’s teammate, Ryan Blaney (+2000), kicked off his 2020 campaign with a second-place run at Daytona. He heads into this one with a 95.6 Driver Rating over the past five Vegas starts while posting an 8.8 AFP. He has finished seventh or better in five of his past six starts at the track, too, including three top-5 showings in the previous four.

Hendrick Motorsports’ William Byron (+2500) and Alex Bowman (+3000) finished in the Top 10 in the second Vegas race last season, with Byron seventh and Bowman sixth. Those two are worth a small-unit bet with rather moderate odds. Tossing a little change on their veteran teammate, seven-time Cup champ Jimmie Johnson (+3000) is also worth a shot. He has four career wins at Vegas to lead all active drivers, and he is 12th or better in seven of his past 10 starts at the track.

Want some action in this one? Place a bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @JoeWilliamsVI and @SportsbookWire on Twitter.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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NASCAR driver who bumped Ryan Newman at Daytona 500 says he’s been ‘replaying’ finish ‘over and over’

Ryan Blaney made contact with Ryan Newman, who wrecked badly on the last lap of the Daytona 500.

In the days since the 2020 Daytona 500 finish when Ryan Newman was in a horrible wreck and taken to the hospital, Ryan Blaney has been “replaying the events in [his] head over and over” and thinking about what he could have “done differently ever since.”

In his first comments about the crash since immediately speaking with reporters after the race, No. 12 Ford driver said on Twitter that he and Newman spoke Wednesday night — Newman was released from the hospital earlier that day — about what played out. Blaney added that Newman’s sense of humor was still intact and “brought a smile to my face.”

On the last lap of Monday’s rain-delayed Daytona 500, Newman, Blaney and eventual Daytona 500 winner Denny Hamlin were fighting for the win. As Blaney later explained, if he couldn’t win the race, he said wanted a fellow Ford driver, Newman, to win over Hamlin in a Toyota. So as Newman had the lead coming down the frontstretch of Daytona International Speedway one last time, Blaney tried to give him a push.

Instead, however, Blaney said his No. 12 Ford and Newman’s No. 6 Ford “just got bumpers hooked up wrong and turned” Newman, who then hit the wall before being slammed into by Corey LaJoie. Newman went airborne, and his car landed upside and slid off the track with sparks and flames coming out of it.

He was taken to a nearby hospital in “serious condition” Monday night and was released, miraculously, less than 48 hours later.

In a Twitter post Thursday night, Blaney also addressed the crash and his brief conversation with Newman.

Blaney wrote:

“I don’t think you will ever see someone as tough as Ryan Newman, to see him walk out of that hospital with his girls brought a tear to my eye. I was lucky enough to speak with him last night briefly about what happened Monday, it was just good to hear his voice to be honest. His Ryan Newman humor was at large and brought a smile to my face. The recovery he has made the past few days have been remarkable. I look forward to seeing him soon to talk about it more.

We are all competitors racing for wins every weekend but at the same time are one big family, and you never want to see family get hurt. Have been replaying the events in my head over and over about what I could’ve done differently ever since. I’m very luck to have a great family, friends, team and incredible fans that have helped me out this week. I can’t thank everyone enough for that.

I can’t wait to have Rocketman Ryan Newman back at the track racing as hard as ever.”

When Blaney spoke with reporters Monday on pit road after the race, he was clearly distraught and shaken up by what had just happened. He repeatedly said spinning Newman was “definitely unintentional.”

Earlier on the final lap, Blaney gave Newman a huge push ahead of Hamlin, and when Blaney then tried to pass Newman for the lead at the very end, Newman successfully blocked him. Blaney said that’s when he tried to push a Ford to win over Hamlin’s Toyota:

“I was just committing to pushing him to the win once he blocked a couple times, was kind of beat. Just hope Ryan’s all right. It sucks to lose a race, but you never want to see anyone get hurt.”

While it is unclear how long Newman will be out of the car, he’s obviously not racing this weekend at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Ross Chastain is filling in for Newman in the No. 6 Ford for Sunday’s race.

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What NASCAR drivers eat before 500-mile races — and how they avoid uncomfortable ‘gut bombs’

From a bucket of chicken to skyline chili, NASCAR drivers told us what the best and worst pre-race meals are.

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Deciding what to eat before climbing into a race car for 500 miles is a delicate balance between guaranteeing you have enough energy to aggressively compete for several hours but ensuring you don’t have to relieve yourself in the middle of the race (without getting out of the car).

Sunday’s Daytona 500 — along with the rest of the NASCAR Cup Series’ schedule and so many other motor sports series — is as much about endurance as it is speed, especially when temperatures in the car can hit 130 degrees.

So what do NASCAR drivers say is the best pre-race meal to eat? And more importantly, what’s the worst thing, the dish you absolutely want to steer clear of?

For The Win spoke to several drivers at Daytona International Speedway this week about their food preferences before racing. Here’s what they had to say about how they keep their stomachs cool and avoid disasters.

Jimmie Johnson, No. 48 Chevrolet

“I would think a big Mexican meal would probably be one of the worst things to eat. Best would be a nice Italian, carb-loading pasta session.”

Joey Logano, No. 22 Ford

(Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

“The best thing you can have is something bland, normal. Chicken, unless I have some salmon or something like that. And I usually throw a lot of barbecue sauce on it because that’s my jam.”

Barbecue sauce on salmon?

“Yeah, barbecue sauce on everything. … I was having eggs this morning and I had barbecue sauce on my eggs because it’s good!

“Worst? Worst would be something that upsets your stomach, obviously, because you’re stuck in there. Spicy foods may not be a good one. … Raisins and grapes don’t really mesh well for me. But it’s different for everybody. Everybody’s got their thing.”

Clint Bowyer, No. 14 Ford

“I would not eat a bowl of chili before the race. I would say the answer to that is: Just imagine yourself in those gut bombs you have after whatever meal it is. Thats’s not the one I would eat before a four-hour [event] where you’re strapped in a race car and can’t move. You gotta have a little wiggle room when you eat something like that.

“Forever, I’ve always said khaki colors only, you know, meat, cheese and the bun. Don’t venture out anything. Just eat something clean. Winner, winner, chicken dinner’s never wrong. I always grew up around racers [who were] like, ‘Absolutely no chicken.’ I’m like, ‘Haven’t you ever heard winner, winner, chicken dinner?’

“We used to win all the time after eating a bucket of chicken on the way to the races.”

Brad Keselowski, No. 2 Ford

“Best: chicken. Worst: ice cream. Ice cream in a race car is going to make some things happen to your body that you don’t want to happen.”

(Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports)

Martin Truex Jr., No. 19 Toyota

“There’s a lot of things you probably shouldn’t [eat]. Anything spicy is probably a bad idea. I keep it simple: Chicken and rice, maybe steak and rice, a little salad. Nothing too heavy that’s going to upset your stomach, obviously.”

Kurt Busch, No. 1 Chevrolet

“The worst pre-race meal is something spicy. You don’t want that happening the wrong way during the race. I did some pasta back in the day trying to load up on some carbs, and, no pun intended, that just felt noodley.

“So I switched to a turkey sandwich, and I’ve been doing a turkey sandwich for the last 20 years.

Ryan Blaney, No. 12 Ford

“The best, for what I like, I’m a big chicken guy, rice, and corn. Corn’s pretty good, but mainly chicken and rice.

“Worst would be like Thai food or something. You don’t want something spicy that’s going to upset your stomach. The last thing you want in there when you’re on mile 250 out of 500 is your stomach starts rumbling because you ate some spicy food, and it’s not going to end well.”

Darrell “Bubba” Wallace Jr., No. 43 Chevrolet

(Mike Dinovo-USA TODAY Sports)

“Probably nothing spicy for pre-race. The best stuff? Probably some pasta. We’ll do that or some grilled chicken. Bob Evans’ mashed potatoes, phenomenal if you haven’t had those.

Seems kind of heavy.

“Maybe that’s my problem. I need to change up my diet. But I like what I like, and I’m gonna keep doing it!”

Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 47 Chevrolet

“I keep it safe a lot of times and go with grilled fish or chicken and rice and some vegetables. Worst thing: Probably some tacos. Any and all.”

Austin Dillon, No. 3 Chevrolet

“Man, the worst thing I ate was peanut butter and jelly one time. I had like, acid reflux or something and I was burping the whole race. I never use peanut butter before the race. I don’t know why. I like peanut butter. That was not fun.

“Best thing? Some type of bar. Something really stale and easy on your stomach. I do some wraps, but I’ve got to be careful with that too. I just keep it super light.

“I eat a big breakfast, and then hopefully that moves through my system. If you want to know my bowel movements, I can record them for you and give them to you.”

No thanks.

Erik Jones, No. 20 Toyota

“The best thing? Chicken and vegetables, salad maybe.

“The worst thing? I know a guy who ate skyline chili — I don’t know if everybody knows what that is, it’s a midwestern thing — ate some skyline chili before a race. Didn’t work very good for him. I stay away from that. I eat the light stuff.”

Ross Chastain, No. 77 Chevrolet

(Chris Trotman/Getty Images)

Well, the best is a watermelon. There’s just no way around that, OK? Goodness gracious. Everybody should know that.

Obviously, from a watermelon farmer.

“The worst for me is anything spicy. I’m a pretty bland guy, like ketchup is a spice to me. You put ketchup on something, that’s doing something. I’m very bland. I’m like baked chicken with barbecue sauce on it is an ideal spice palette for me.”

Tyler Reddick, No. 8 Chevrolet

“I love eating seafood. On top of that, I like eating sashimi. That could either be the best thing or worst thing before you get in the race car.”

Is that what you usually eat?

“I wish I had the ability to do that. I just keep it simple and light. A little bit of grilled chicken, a wrap or something like that. Maybe a salad. I like to eat — really eat good during the week, so I can get to the race weekend and then try and clean up what I eat so my body isn’t pissed off I ate too much of one thing.”

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