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Ryan Blaney’s 2023 has certainly been a year to remember. After a frustrating 2022 season in which he failed to win a race for the first time since his rookie campaign, Blaney racked up 18 top-10 finishes and three wins, propelling the driver of the No. 12 Roger Penske Ford into the Championship 4 for the first time. He took full advantage, securing a runner-up finish in the season finale to capture his first NASCAR Cup Series championship. With the ultimate career accomplishment for the NASCAR driver under his belt, Blaney’s year has further improved. Blaney is now engaged to girlfriend Gianna Tulio after the couple dated for about three-and-a-half years.

Daytona International Speedway (James Gilbert/Getty Images)

And it appears Blaney picked out a date to propose he’s unlikely to forget — Dec. 12, or 12-12. Of course, Blaney has driven the No. 12 for Team Penske since joining the team in 2018. It’s possible the date was purely coincidental. For Blaney, it’s probably best to propose in the offseason when a driver’s travel schedule slows down a bit and he can enjoy time with his new fiancé. Still, the 12-12 proposal certainly suggests there was more to it than pure coincidence.

Either way, it’s a date Blaney and Tulio are unlikely to forget.

It remains to be seen if Blaney can display his Star Wars trinkets now that the couple is engaged. Blaney joked in the 2022 USA documentary “Race for the Championship” his trinkets “are gone now” with his relationship to Tulio.

According to her LinkedIn page, Tulio is a brand representative for Hooters, which sponsors Blaney’s longtime friend Chase Elliott. Tulio was crowned Miss Hooters International in in 2021. She was also the cover model for the Hooters 2022 calendar.

Blaney engagement to Tulio puts an exclamation mark on his 2023, particularly in the latter half of the year.

Blaney’s ended a 59-race winless streak by dominating the Coca-Cola 600 in May. The win punched his ticket to the NASCAR Playoffs for the seventh straight year. Blaney then won the fall Talladega race to advance to the Round of 8. He then racked up three straight top-six finishes, including a win at Martinsville, to secure his spot in the championship round.

Blaney cemented his title by outpacing Kyle Larson, Christopher Bell and William Byron in the season finale with a runner-up finish at Phoenix.

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MotorBiscuit Contributing Writer

Joe Parker

Joe Parker is an expert in new cars, trucks, and SUVs — particularly their driving dynamics, features, and real-world pragmatism — gleaning his first-hand perspectives through his testing and reviewing of hundreds of new models since 2018.

His motorsports coverage reflects his hands-on hours behind the wheel. A recipient of over 20 awards from several state and national journalism associations, Joe is a member of the Greater Atlanta Automotive Media Association (GAAMA) and the Southeast Region Automotive Media Association (SERAMA).