NASCAR Superstar Ryan Blaney Left Stunned as Nephew Hijacks His Radio Mid-Race at Bristol: "He Figured It Out! Smart Kid"

During the NASCAR Cup Series Bass Pro Shops Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway on Saturday, September 13, Ryan Blaney experienced a moment unlike any other in his career. With 187 laps remaining, the driver of the No.

12 Team Penske Ford Mustang suddenly heard a voice that wasn’t from his crew or spotter. Instead, it was his four-year-old nephew Bodhi.“Hi, Uncle Ryan,” Bodhi said over the scanner in a clip that has since gone viral online. He added a message of encouragement: “Win this race.”

Ryan Blaney Turns to His Wife to Intervene

The unexpected radio interruption left Ryan Blaney laughing inside his car, though he quickly called on his wife, Gianna Blaney, to help fix the situation.

“Get Bodhi off the scanner,” Blaney joked while racing.According to Blaney, Bodhi had discovered Gianna’s scanner in their bus before the race and figured out how to activate it. “He found Gianna’s scanner in the bus and found out how to turn it on. Pretty smart,” Blaney admitted.Ryan Blaney’s spotter, Tim Fedewa, also found the moment entertaining, calling the playful interruption “pretty awesome.”

How Bodhi Figured Out the Button

After the race, where Blaney ultimately finished fourth, he explained exactly how his nephew managed to break through on the line.

He recalled that his nephews, ages 4 and 6, were at the race earlier and had been inside the bus where Gianna’s radio was located.“She has a radio in the bus where she can listen,” Blaney explained in a NASCAR video. “Neither of us knew that the button worked. I thought it was an obsolete button… but apparently it does!”Ryan Blaney remembered discussing the button with Bodhi before the race. When the boy asked what it did, Blaney explained it allowed Gianna to listen to his race communications.

Bodhi then compared it to a walkie-talkie. “I was like, ‘Yeah, kind of like a walkie-talkie!’” Blaney recalled.That comparison stuck with the young fan. When race time came, Bodhi pressed the button and delivered his message. “He figured it out, turned it on, pushed the button, gave me a little bit of motivation, and that was pretty cool,” Blaney said proudly.

Perfect Timing Amid a Stretch of Cautions

The timing of the surprise call worked out in Blaney’s favor, coming during a caution period.

“There was a point in the race where there were a lot of cautions after cautions,” Ryan Blaney said. “So that was a nice moment of levity and just a little break.”Blaney also noted he immediately recognized the voice as one of his nephews, and based on the earlier button conversation, he was confident it was Bodhi.

Blaney’s Takeaway from the Memorable Moment

Looking back, Blaney said the incident highlighted his nephew’s smarts. “Smart kid,” he said. “I wouldn’t know how to do that at four years old, but he figured it out!”At the same time, the Cup Series champion acknowledged the family may need to make some changes to avoid accidental interruptions in the future.

“We have to get that button worked on so no one pushes it on accident,” Blaney remarked.Despite the unexpected radio hijack, Blaney managed to finish fourth in the race. Christopher Bell ultimately claimed the win at Bristol.

Ryan Blaney Balances Racing Career and Family Life

Blaney, who is in his 10th full-time season in the NASCAR Cup Series and his eighth with team owner Roger Penske, has experienced many on-track challenges. But the moment at Bristol proved that even in the middle of competition, family can unexpectedly step in.Also read: Alabama Teen Shark Attack Survivor Lulu Gribbin Feels ‘Grateful’ and Hopes to Compete in the Paralympics After Losing LimbsUncle duty, as Blaney learned, never really takes a break - even at 180 miles per hour.