Ryan Blaney has become the face of NASCAR’s next digital swing, with the series launching a new YouTube-only show built around the Team Penske driver and celebrity passengers.
NASCAR confirmed on Monday that On The Gas with Ryan Blaney will debut on July 1, with four episodes released across the first four Wednesdays of the month. The 2023 Cup Series champion will take guests including Keegan-Michael Key, Chad Ochocinco, Westen Champlin and The Stradman for high-speed ride-along interviews.
Why NASCAR is leaning on Blaney
The move is more than light entertainment. NASCAR is trying to convert driver access into digital reach, and Blaney is a logical choice: a recent champion, a Penske front-line name and one of the grid’s more marketable personalities away from the car.
NASCAR’s release framed YouTube as a central part of that push, noting its scale as a streaming platform and the shift towards television-screen viewing. That makes the format different from a standard paddock feature. It is part interview, part passenger-seat spectacle, and part brand-building exercise.
The timing also matters. Blaney’s next Cup appearance comes at Chicagoland Speedway this Sunday, while ReadMotoSport has already covered NASCAR’s recent competitive tension through Chase Briscoe’s Sonoma near-miss. This project gives NASCAR a softer, personality-led entry point before the next race weekend begins.
