Ryan Blaney is known by many names: Mr. Manifestation, YRB (Young Ryan Blaney), or simply the 2023 NASCAR Cup champion.
But perhaps his most recognizable feature is his thick, horseshoe-style mustache, which draws comparisons to the late Dale Earnhardt.
>>> Vegas Golden Knights Rally to Beat Carolina Hurricanes 5-4 in Stanley Cup Final Game 1
During a meet and greet at an Advanced Auto Parts store in Murfreesboro on May 30, a fan pointed at Blaney's mustache and said, "You look like Dale Earnhardt."
Blaney replied with a humble grin, "Really?"
Blaney explained that his plan last offseason was to grow a "big old beard." After a week of shaping it, he settled on the mustache.
"My wife liked it, so I decided to keep it and here we are," he said.
The 32-year-old driver, currently third in points behind Tyler Reddick and Denny Hamlin, won at Nashville Superspeedway last year and finished eighth this year after leading 46 laps.
He has 18 career Cup Series wins and 177 top 10s in 392 races.
From 'Cars' Fan to Voice Actor
Blaney grew up watching Disney's "Cars" repeatedly. He was 12 when the film was released in 2006.
By age 23, he voiced the character Ryan "Inside" Laney in "Cars 3" (2017).
"I was a big fan of 'Cars,'" Blaney said.
"When they asked me to be a part of that third movie, in a small, little role, that was kind of a childhood thing.
I definitely jumped on it."
