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In October 2019, Ryan Blaney was caught off guard when news broke that his sister Erin was dating William Byron, the Hendrick Motorsports star and his Cup Series rival.
The relationship that had been blossoming since earlier that month was no longer a secret. Still, the story of how Team Penske's Ryan Blaney stumbled upon this unexpected connection added an intriguing twist to an already compelling narrative.
Blaney's introduction to the budding romance was anything but conventional. As he strolled towards the drivers' meeting at Martinsville Speedway, a seemingly innocuous encounter with a friend changed his perception.
In a 2019 interview with NASCAR on NBC's Rutledge Wood, Blaney recounted the moment:
"My buddy’s like, ‘Hey, I didn’t know about Willy and your sister.’ And I’m like, ‘What are you talking about?’"
It was a classic case of life dropping unexpected news at an inopportune moment. Will Byron's reaction to Ryan Blaney's newfound knowledge was a mix of surprise and humorous regret.
When confronted with how Blaney had learned of their relationship, he said:
"Oh gosh."
The realization of how the revelation might have influenced their on-track interactions was evident in his words:
"No wonder he raced me so hard that day. I should have handled that better."
Despite discovering the news in a roundabout way, Ryan Blaney showed restraint by not immediately confronting Byron. Instead, he bided his time, turning the situation into a playful card game conversation. Byron admitted:
"It was a little awkward that he actually brought it up first."
The #12 Team Penske driver was frequently questioned about his stance on William Byron's relationship. However, the 29-year-old was open to the situation and maintained a positive perspective.
"I texted Erin first. 'I think you forgot to tell me some news,'" he said.
Blaney also revealed his initial thoughts on the matter, asserting that he never harbored any resentment towards the relationship:
"I mean, people always ask me, ‘Are you mad that Will is dating your sister?’ I don't care, she's 22 and can do whatever she wants," he said.
