Ryan Blaney told Josh Sims of FOX Sports he’d be disappointed if his head didn’t hurt Monday after winning the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series championship the day prior.
Turns out, Blaney had quite the headache after a night of celebrating, though he admitted he’s “felt worse.” But whatever the case, a rough morning is well worth the joy of winning your first Cup Series championship.
“It’s better now,” Blaney told Bob Pockrass of FOX Sports Tuesday. “Monday morning wasn’t fun. But I’ve felt worse. I’ve felt worse than what I did Monday morning, but it’s just fun to celebrate. You have to appreciate those things. I held true to my promise that my head did hurt.”
Blaney revealed he spent five hours at Phoenix Raceway after hoisting the Bill France Cup, before going back to the hotel to party alongside everyone from Team Penske.
“The atmosphere was great,” Blaney said. “We were there [at the track] for five hours after the race and doing everything. And we had a party set up with all the Penske group at our hotel. So I was excited to get there. And they all just met me there. We actually got there at the same time, by the time they got done teching the car and loading it.
“I was ready to leave by the end of the photos at the track, but once [crew chief] Jon [Hassler] and I did leave the track, I kind of missed it. I was like, “Man, I wish we didn’t have to leave.” It was fun just being there and soaking it all in. But I was excited to be with my group as well.”
Ryan Blaney outlasts Championship 4 contenders to win championship
Blaney earned his first Cup Series championship after finishing second in the season finale, just behind race winner Ross Chastain and in front of fellow championship contenders William Byron, Kyle Larson and Christopher Bell.
“You never want to count yourself out,” Blaney said after the race. “I mean, I think in the summer we were struggling a little bit. But we never gave up. We just went to work. I’ve said that all week, like, this group goes to work and they figure out problems. That’s why they’re such an amazing group to be with, with the Team Penske folks, ’cause they just put their head down and do the work, accept the challenge.
“That’s what we did. It’s not happenstance we started running good through the playoffs. It was a lot of hard work by a lot of amazing men and women at the shop. I can’t thank them enough for that.”