Ryan Blaney is looking forward to the return of the iconic Bowman Gray Stadium for the 2025 NASCAR Cup season opening event.
The 2025 season’s first race, the Busch Light Clash, will be the first major stock car race at this historic venue in 53 years.
As a child, Blaney raced at Bowman Gray, and he has revealed a hilarious moment when a seven-year-old fan flipped him off after one of his races there.
Ryan Blaney grew up in a family steeped in racing history. Grandfather Lou Blaney was a legend on dirt tracks, and his father Dave Blaney raced in NASCAR. These family ties heavily influenced his own journey in racing. Even as a young boy, Blaney was drawn to the sport, hitting the tracks at just eight years old. Small, short tracks like Martinsville and Bristol remain his favorites.
Bowman Gray, with its storied history dating back to 1956, holds a special place in his heart. Blaney remembers a particular race at the stadium when he was just ten. He recalls a fan’s funny gesture that made him realize the passion and intensity of the crowds at Bowman Gray.
During an interview with Sportsnaut, Blaney explained:
“I’ve raced there twice, in a bandolero and legend car, and my one vivid memory, I won in a bandolero when I was like 9 or 10. My one vivid memory was that there was a kid, younger than me, flip me off over the barrier when I was 10 and he was 7, and he was just doing what his parents did.
“I don’t think he didn’t like me or anything. It was just, this is what we do. I vividly remember that going down the frontstretch. I hope we get to see a few more going back there for the Clash. I bet we will.”
William Byron, another NASCAR driver from Hendrick Motorsports, is also very excited about the upcoming race. He commented, as per the same report from Sportsnaut:
“A more intimate setting, a lot of fans yelling at you. The Coliseum was great but the fans were just watching the cars and wondering what’s happening. These fans know what’s happening and will be into it.”
2025 NASCAR Cup Series Schedule
Regular Season
- Feb. 2: Winston-Salem (Clash) – 8 p.m., FOX
- Feb. 16: Daytona 500 – 2:30 p.m., FOX
- Feb. 23: Atlanta – 3 p.m., FOX
- Mar. 2: Austin – 3:30 p.m., FOX
- Mar. 9: Phoenix – 3:30 p.m., FS1
- Mar. 16: Las Vegas – 3:30 p.m., FS1
- Mar. 23: Homestead – 3 p.m., FS1
- Mar. 30: Martinsville – 3 p.m., FS1
- Apr. 6: Darlington – 3 p.m., FS1
- Apr. 13: Bristol – 3 p.m., FS1
- Apr. 20: Off (Easter)
- Apr. 27: Talladega – 3 p.m., FOX
- May 4: Texas – 3:30 p.m., FS1
- May 11: Kansas – 3 p.m., FS1
- May 18: North Wilkesboro (All-Star) – 8 p.m., FS1
- May 25: Charlotte – 6 p.m., Prime Video
- June 1: Nashville – 7 p.m., Prime Video
- June 8: Michigan – 2 p.m., Prime Video
- June 15: Mexico City – 3 p.m., Prime Video
- June 22: Pocono – 2 p.m., Prime Video
- June 28: Atlanta – 7 p.m., TNT
- July 6: Chicago street course – 2 p.m., TNT
- July 13: Sonoma – 3:30 p.m., TNT
- July 20: Dover – 2 p.m., TNT
- July 27: Indianapolis – 2 p.m., TNT
- Aug. 3: Iowa – 3:30 p.m., USA
- Aug. 10: Watkins Glen – 2 p.m., USA
- Aug. 16: Richmond – 7:30 p.m., USA
- Aug. 23: Daytona – 7:30 p.m., NBC
Playoffs
- Aug. 31: Darlington – 6 p.m., USA
- Sept. 7: St. Louis – 3 p.m., USA
- Sept. 13: Bristol – 7:30 p.m., USA
- Sept. 21: New Hampshire – 2 p.m., USA
- Sept. 28: Kansas – 3 p.m., USA
- Oct. 5: Charlotte road course – 3 p.m., USA
- Oct. 12: Las Vegas – 5:30 p.m., USA
- Oct. 19: Talladega – 2 p.m., NBC
- Oct. 26: Martinsville – 2 p.m., NBC
- Nov. 2: Phoenix – 3 p.m., NBC
The post Ryan Blaney Reveals Hilarious Bowman Gray Memory As NASCAR Returns To Iconic Track appeared first on Newsweek.
