William Byron “Fumbled the Bag”, Claim Fans as Lone Show at NASCAR Awards Fuels Breakup Rumor With Ryan Blaney’s Sister

The rumors have been circulating for months. Despite William Byron and Erin Blaney being in a relationship since 2019, speculation has been rife about the couple parting ways for reasons that are unknown. The Hendrick Motorsports driver was the only one at the 2024 NASCAR Awards without his partner, intensifying claims that all is not well between the two. Could there be any truth behind the conjectures, or is there an alternate explanation behind the situation?

As expected, NASCAR fans took to social media to reach conclusions based on William Byron’s solo appearance. Time will tell if the No. 24 Chevy driver has indeed parted ways with Erin Blaney, which will confirm whether the longstanding relationship between the two is alive or at an end.

A sneak peek into William Byron and Erin Blaney’s relationship

It’s no secret that William Byron has been in a long-term relationship. The North Carolina native began dating Erin Blaney in October 2019, while Ryan Blaney was blissfully unaware of their love interest. The Team Penske driver ultimately came to know about their brewing romance through a friend and was initially disappointed at not being told about the couple sooner. However, the 2023 Cup Series champion eventually came to terms with their bond and wholeheartedly supported them.

Speaking to NBC Sports, Ryan Blaney said, “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. And I like him. So it’s all good.” Erin Blaney graduated from McGuinness Catholic High School and went on to pursue higher education at the University of Alabama from 2015 to 2019. Her focus was on public health education while also doing a minor in advertising. Apart from her studies, she has also served as Executive Director of the Ryan Blaney Family Foundation, raising awareness for Alzheimer’s disease and concussions.

Having come from a racing family, Erin Blaney is no stranger to the NASCAR world. Her grandfather, Lou Blaney, was a dirt track racer, while her father, David Blaney, competed in stock cars. Naturally, she also fell for a racing driver, who was none other than Hendrick Motorsports’ William Byron. After seeing each other for a month, the couple made their relationship official on social media in November 2019 and celebrated their third anniversary in 2022 with a post, in which Erin Blaney wrote, “I’ve spent 3 years with my best friend. There’s nothing like this.”

Given how close the pair are, it’s puzzling why Erin Blaney didn’t accompany William Byron at the 2024 NASCAR Awards. The pair unfollowed each other on social media months ago, which initially sparked speculation regarding a split between the two. With the No. 24 Chevy driver making a solo appearance, those rumors have gained even more traction, as NASCAR fans took to social media and shared thoughts regarding the HMS driver’s relationship status.

NASCAR fans speculate the reason behind Byron’s solo appearance

As expected, it didn’t take long for NASCAR fans to reach conclusions after William Byron went to the 2024 NASCAR Awards without his long-term partner Erin Blaney. Acknowledging that the North Carolina native had a good thing going on with Ryan Blaney’s sister, a fan said, “Willy B fumbled the bag”, indicating that the racing driver may have been at fault for the couple parting ways. While the rest of the drivers showed up with their wives and girlfriends, the Hendrick Motorsports driver looked unfazed despite not having a plus one, prompting one fan to write, “Shout out to Willy B showing up alone.”

While breakups are often a painful experience for those involved, a fan couldn’t help but find the humor in the situation and went on to write on X, “Willy B being the only one going stag is so funny for some reason 😂.” Echoing that sentiment, another fan noted how confident the 26-year-old looked in front of the cameras and complimented the racing driver for not being daunted by the circumstances, saying, “Willy b is a one man show.”

Despite speculation about their breakup being unconfirmed, a NASCAR fan asked William Byron a rhetorical question on Instagram, which read, “Is it awkward that your ex-girlfriend is your competitor/friend’s sister that you race every weekend?” While all signs point to the duo going their separate ways, photos of the couple are still present on both their Instagram profiles. Ultimately, time will provide more clarity about the ongoing situation between the couple, finally ending the rumors that are circulating on social media.