Tuesday

Ryan Blaney Hopes to Cap Off Stellar Season with Success in Florida

“After Much Preparation, 14-Year-Old Racer Heads to Five Flags Speedway to See What the Snowflake 100 Holds for Him”

HIGH POINT, NC (December 1, 2009) – Ryan Blaney has been keeping his name in the news this season by grabbing the 2009 PASS South Super Late Model Rookie of the Year honors on the basis of 12 top-10 finishes in 13 races. His most recent outing produced an impressive sixth-place finish in the CRA Super Series North-South Shootout at Concord Speedway (NC). Now the young North Carolina racer is looking to make more headlines in the Snowflake 100 Pro Late Model race in December at Five Flags Speedway (FL), as part of the Snowball Derby weekend.

Although Blaney was crowned Rookie of the Year in the PASS South Series, he is not a rookie to Five Flags Speedway or the Snowflake 100. Blaney competed in the 2008 version of the event, where he finished 17th, and also took part in the final round of the 2009 Five Flags Speedway Pro Late Model season, bringing home a ninth-place finish.

“I wasn’t really that experienced when we went down there before,” said Blaney. “We really didn’t know that much about the cars, but I think that since I have a lot more experience now and we, as a team, have gotten a lot better, I think we can go down there and really be a contender for the victory. We have been down to Five Flags Speedway this year to race about a month ago, and the knowledge we gained on the track then will help us for the Snowflake 100.”

Having already been acquainted with the functioning style of the Snowflake last year, Blaney knows that first and foremost is the pressure to simply qualify for the race before turning the focus to the race.

“It definitely puts a little pressure on us,” said Blaney. “I’m not the strongest qualifier. I’ve had a couple of poles here and there, but we flex our muscles more during the race. We qualified pretty well there last time and I think we’ll be alright. If I’m just comfortable with it, I think we’ll be pretty good. We’ll work hard in practice and I’m confident we’ll make the show.”

Blaney’s confidence level goes beyond his ability as a driver as he puts a lot of faith in his team. After a full year of Late Model racing under his belt, Blaney is ready to etch his name in the record books as a winner in the Snowflake 100.

“If we could win the Snowflake 100, it would mean a lot. So many good guys are going down there like Kyle Busch, Bubba Pollard and Augie Grill. It would be awesome, especially to come to Five Flags and beat them at their own track where they’ve practiced and raced this whole year. It would mean a lot to me and it would be a great win for the team.”

Ryan Blaney will hit the track for the Allen Turner Snowflake 100 at Five Flags Speedway in Pensacola, Florida, on December 5th.

- 51 Sports Press Release