NNS: Ryan Blaney To Drive For Penske Racing

Nationwide

NNS: Ryan Blaney To Drive For Penske Racing

Ryan Blaney, the 18-year-old son of Sprint Cup Series driver Dave Blaney, will make his Penske Racing debut on Aug. 4...

Media Release | Posted July 17, 2012 Mooresville, NC

Ryan Blaney will make at least three starts for Penske Racing this season. (Photo: Getty Images)

Penske Racing announced Tuesday that third-generation race car driver Ryan Blaney has joined the organization and will compete in the No. 22 Dodge in select NASCAR Nationwide Series events over the balance of the 2012 season.

Blaney, the 18-year-old son of Sprint Cup Series driver Dave Blaney, will make his Penske Racing debut in the No. 22 Discount Tire Dodge Challenger in the Nationwide Series race at Iowa Speedway on Aug. 4.

Blaney will also drive for the team in at least two other races this season. He will race the No. 22 Snap-on Dodge at Richmond International Raceway, and he’ll drive the No. 22 Discount Tire Dodge at Kentucky Speedway.

“Ryan is a driver with a great racing pedigree, and we believe he has a very bright future in NASCAR,” said Tim Cindric, president of Penske Racing. “We’ve been keeping an eye on Ryan’s development, and we feel he’ll be a great addition to the No. 22 Nationwide Series team.”

With a winning junior developmental track record established in quarter midgets, bandolero and legends cars, Blaney has also raced successfully in Super Late Models and the ARCA Series, as well as the NASCAR K&N Pro Series. Continuing his development in 2012, Blaney has made three Nationwide Series starts this season for Tommy Baldwin Racing, and was impressive in a seventh-place finish at Richmond earlier this year.

“I’m very excited about the opportunity to drive for Penske Racing for the rest of this season,” said Blaney. "With the team’s strong tradition of success and the winning program they’ve established in the Nationwide Series, I believe I can learn a lot and hopefully we can produce some strong finishes in the No. 22 car.”