© Randy Sartin/Imagn
Saturday’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Bristol was extremely productive for Team Penske driver Ryan Blaney.
Not only did Blaney, the 2023 series champion, bring home a fourth-place finish, securing his advancement in the series playoffs, but he also won the opening stage of the race, securing a potentially important playoff point.
However, not everything was straightforward for Blaney. Despite taking the lead early in the race, he found himself on the wrong side of an ill-timed caution and wound up a lap down.
Additionally, Blaney found himself on the end of some unexpected radio interference mid-way through the race.
Ryan Blaney’s Baby Cousin Hacked His Team Radio During NASCAR Race At Bristol
While riding around under caution with 186 laps remaining, a strange voice came across Blaney’s radio. Not only was the voice not that of Blaney’s crew chief or spotter, but it was also one that sounded like it was coming from a small child.
That’s because it was, in fact, coming from a small child.
— Andrew (@Basso488) September 14, 2025
“Hi Uncle Ryan. Go Ryan. Win this race. Win this race,” the voice said, making it clear to Blaney what happened.
“Mom. Get Bodie off the scanner,” Blaney said, chuckling. “He found (Blaney’s wife) Gianna’s scanner in the bus. Found out how to turn it on. Pretty smart.”
Bodie is Blaney’s nephew and the daughter of his sister, Emma. Blaney’s other sister, Erin, has also been in the news this year around the track after ending her longtime relationship with Team Hendrick driver William Byron.
That freed up Byron to shoot his shot at pop superstar Sabrina Carpenter. Sadly for Byron, nothing came of it. And sadly for Blaney and his nephew, he didn’t go on to win the race.
But the interaction has to be toward the top of Blaney’s list of weird things to happen during a race.