NASCAR's Ryan Blaney discusses steps to repeat as Cup Series champion

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Ryan Blaney added his name to the history books last year when he won the NASCAR Cup Series.

The 30-year-old grew up in a racing family. His father, Dave Blaney, is a former driver, and his grandfather was a stock car racer. For Ryan, winning it all was a "full-circle" moment.

"It’s something that I always wanted to achieve since I was a kid. I had a dad who raced. I grew up watching every race and was around the sport at a young age, saw everybody, these greats that I idolized, win championships. And, as a kid, you want to be that," Blaney said in a recent interview with Fox News Digital. 

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Ryan Blaney, driver of the No. 12 Menards/Dutch Boy Ford, celebrates in victory lane after winning the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series Championship at Phoenix Raceway Nov. 5, 2023, in Avondale, Ariz.  (Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

"You just want to be that person who achieves those things. It’s all come full circle. To know the hard work paid off, the 15 guys you go to battle with every weekend on your team, to share it with them, too, I think is one of the most special things on top of that."

But his quest to repeat didn't start off hot. He posted a 30th-place finish at the Daytona 500 after a wreck.

"Got in one of those late-race wrecks and ruined our chances," he said.

But he immediately ripped off three consecutive top-five finishes (second, third, fifth). He also finished fifth at Martinsville and seventh at Dover. As of Sunday morning, he ranks eighth in the standings.

"We strung together a few good weeks, trying to keep that momentum, and you’re just trying to get hot at the right time," Blaney