Ryan Blaney Gives the Story Behind Wife Gianna’s Motivating Chant That Became Viral Among NASCAR Fans

What began as a spontaneous cheer from Gianna Blaney at Phoenix in 2023 quickly snowballed into a full-blown rallying cry. Her send-off — “And remember, be Ryan f—ing Blaney” — echoed through the crowd just before her husband won the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series championship. The moment, captured in NASCAR: Full Speed, ignited a wave of fanfare, with the phrase finding its way onto shirts and merchandise across the sport.

Fresh off his Nashville win, Blaney revisited the now-iconic moment on NASCAR: The Day After. When asked how often fans shout the line at him, he laughed, “More than you think! Throughout the race weekend, it gets pretty large, but yeah, it’s pretty funny.”

Explaining its origin, Blaney said, “She [Gianna] started saying that handful of months before that [2023 Phoenix] probably. In her mind, it was just like, ‘Be yourself, don’t worry about anything else. Just be you and be genuine, and be who you are.’ And then that’s just how it came out of her mouth, and it caught fire on the Netflix deal, and kind of ran with it.”

For Blaney, the phrase has become more than just a meme — it serves as a grounding reminder. In his words, it reflects a shared language with Gianna, one that nudges him to stay authentic.

In the series, Gianna admitted she was overjoyed hearing fans echo her words. To her, it meant they believed in Ryan as much as she did. “Just be Ryan f—ing Blaney,” she says — a mantra she hopes reminds him of who he is and what he’s capable of.

Initially, she had no idea her voice had been picked up on a hot mic. Seeing the trailer left her momentarily mortified, but the embarrassment soon gave way to pride.

Now, the phrase has taken on a life of its own. Blaney shared that fans frequently send custom shirts and hats, all bearing the catchphrase. From grandstands to garages, the chant has lit a fire — one that even the Team Penske driver admits is here to stay.

About the author

Neha Dwivedi

Neha Dwivedi is an experienced NASCAR Journalist at The SportsRush, having penned over 5500 articles on the sport to date. She was a seasoned writer long before she got into the world of NASCAR. Although she loves to see Martin Truex Jr. and Kyle Busch win the races, she equally supports the emerging talents in the CARS Late Model and ARCA Menards Series.. For her work in NASCAR she has earned accolades from journalists like Susan Wade of The Athletic, as well as NASCAR drivers including Thad Moffit and Corey Lajoie. Her favorite moment from NASCAR was witnessing Kyle Busch and Martin Truex Jr. win the championship trophies. Outside the racetrack world, Neha immerses herself in the literary world, exploring both fiction and non-fiction.

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