{{short description|American racing driver}} {{Infobox racing driver | name = Lou Blaney | image = | birth_name = Lewis George Blaney | birth_date = January 4, 1940 | birth_place = Hartford, Ohio, U.S. | death_date = {{death date and age|2009|1|25|1940|1|4|mf=y}} | last_series = Modified racing career | years_active= 1958-1960; 1978-2002 | first_year = 1958 | prev_series= Sprint car racing<br>10<br>200+ | prev_series_years = 1961-1981<br>Championships<br>Wins | car_number = 10 | championships = 8 | wins = 200+ | last_finish = | titles = | awards= | updated= }}
'''Lewis George "Lou" Blaney''' (January 4, 1940 – January 25, 2009) was an American racecar driver who raced modifieds and sprint cars.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.empaonline.org/lou%20blaney%20bio.html |title=Lou Blaney bio |publisher=Empaonline.org |date=2009-01-25 |accessdate=2013-12-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131215034141/http://www.empaonline.org/lou%20blaney%20bio.html |archive-date=2013-12-15 |url-status=dead }}</ref> He was also the operator and part-owner of Sharon Speedway.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.autoweek.com/article/20090127/free/901279997 |title=Sprint Car star Lou Blaney dies |publisher=Autoweek |date=2009-01-27 |accessdate=2013-12-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131215034427/http://www.autoweek.com/article/20090127/free/901279997 |archive-date=2013-12-15 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
==Early life== Lou Blaney was born in Hartford Township, Trumbull County, Ohio, where his father, George, operated the family sawmill and lumber business. During Lou's youth, George sponsored race cars through his business, Blaney Lumber.<ref>{{cite news|last=Fryer|first=Jenna|title=Blaney's win adds to family's legacy|url=https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2023/nov/07/blaneys-win-adds-to-familys-legacy/|date=November 7, 2023|newspaper=Arkansas Democrat-Gazette|location=Little Rock AR|accessdate=May 31, 2025}}</ref><ref name="SCHF1">{{cite web|last=Kennedy|first=Doug|title=Lou Blaney|url=https://www.sprintcarhof.com/helper_pages/FileGet.aspx?id=390|website=National Sprint Car Hall of Fame & Museum|accessdate=May 31, 2025}}</ref>
==Racing career== Blaney began racing a Cadillac powered 1934 Chevy coupe in 1958 as part of his father's three car team. From 1961 to 1981, he concentrated on the Pennsylvania sprint car circuit, claiming eight track championships at the Lernerville Speedway in Sarver, with additional crowns at Tri-City Speedway in Oakland, and the Jennersville Speedway.<ref name="SCHF1"/>
In 1978, Blaney began a transition back to modified racing, ultimately claiming five track championships at Sharon Speedway in Ohio, and three more titles at Lernerville.<ref name="SCHF1"/>
Blaney won 600 races in 47 years of racing, and is a member of the Northeast Dirt Modified Hall of Fame, National Sprint Car Hall of Fame, and Pittsburgh Circle Track Club Hall of Fame.<ref name="PPG1">{{cite news|last=Nelson |first=Diana |url=http://www.post-gazette.com/obituaries/2009/02/01/Obituary-Lou-Blaney-Sprint-and-modified-race-car-hall-of-famer/stories/200902010219 |title=Obituary: Lou Blaney / Sprint and modified race car hall of famer |newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|location=PA |date=2009-02-01 |accessdate=2018-09-13}}</ref>
==Personal life== Blaney had two sons, both of whom race, as does a grandson. Dave Blaney is a World of Outlaws champion and former NASCAR Cup Series driver along with his son Ryan, who himself is a NASCAR Cup Series champion and Team Penske driver, while Dale Blaney is a sprint car driver. Dale also was a college basketball player and was drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers, but decided not to pursue an NBA career so that he could focus on racing. In 2001, Blaney was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease.<ref name="PPG1"/>
On January 25, 2009, Blaney died at age 69. He suffered from undisclosed medical problems for some time, and the cause of death was not released by his family.<ref>{{cite web|last=Spaid |first=Brian |url=http://news.southjerseydirtracing.com/DisplayNewsRelease.asp?ForumID=166&Msgid=19023&page=5 |title=Racing Legend Lou Blaney Dies |publisher=South Jersey Dirt Racing/ToddJ |date=2009-01-25 |accessdate=2018-09-13}}</ref> The Lou Blaney Memorial Race runs at Sharon Speedway every year.<ref name="SCHF1"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sharonspeedway.com/2013/08/18/lou-blaney-memorial-tuesday-blaney-brothers-look-to-fend-off-invaders-nascars-kyle-larson-to-compete-with-sprints-bro-mod-tour-also-featured/ |title=Lou Blaney Memorial Tuesday; Blaney Brothers look to fend off invaders with Sprints; BRP Mod Tour also featured « Sharon Speedway |publisher=Sharonspeedway.com |date= |accessdate=2013-12-15}}</ref>
==Awards and accomplishments== *National Sprint Car Hall of Fame, 2013 inductee *Eastern Motorsport Press Association Hall of Fame, 2010 inductee *Northeast Dirt Modified Hall of Fame, 2000 inductee *Pittsburgh Circle Track Club Halls of Fame, 1997 inductee *Curbstone Coaches Hall of Fame, 2007 inductee
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *[http://www.jimmyjeep.com/2013-69.jpg Early Lou Blaney sprint car]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Blaney, Lou}} Category:1940 births Category:2009 deaths Category:Racing drivers from Ohio Category:People from Trumbull County, Ohio Category:Northeast Dirt Modified Hall of Fame