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ryan van blarcum 🌟

@ryan_vanblarcum

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orange grove | dallas | indianapolis
adrenaline junkie
puck knower
@notryanvb

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ryan squared :)

Hi! My name is Ryan Van Blarcum. That’s what I go by. That’s what I’ve gone by for close friends since 2019. That, however, is not my legal given name.

As many of you know, I am trans. My story starts before I knew that was true. In 2014, my parents began what would be a nearly three year court fight for the rights of certain pieces of their divorce. I’m not going to get into the details, but it created an extremely rough time of my life.

I am big enough to admit that I struggled and coped with my issues in the wrong way. It was extreme and I was in pain and had no outlet.

Their divorce was also the beginning of a stretch of time where I went from every single weekend of the first nine yers of my life being spent at race tracks to not attending a race for three years. As someone who raced and loved the community racing provided, that was the price of my parent’s divorce that hurt me the worst: losing racing. It was never really “my thing”, simply my dad’s, until a random Sunday in 2017.

2017. Pocono. The 99th win for the Wood Brothers. The day that saved my life. I was at my grandmothers. I turned on the TV and couldn’t get it to change channels, so I sat through Ryan Blaney’s first Cup Series win. And in a way, Ryan saved my life. I was hooked on racing again. I had a reason to get out of bed every week and make it to the next Sunday, even when it felt impossible. I had a purpose.

In 2019, when my feelings finally needed a name, to honor the man that saved my life, I chose Ryan. It was perfect. I am Ryan. That’s me. As simple as that.

7 years down the road, that race and purpose has led me to living in Indianapolis, Indiana, chasing my dreams, 18.5 hours from the couch where I watched Ryan win and decided that life would be worth living.

Life has been worth living since then. Tonight, for the first time, I got to meet the man behind my name. I got to share my story with him. He gave me hugs. I cried. He was just as kind as many had said he would be. I’m so thankful for him.

Racing is my passion. It motivates me to get out of bed. It was my saving grace when I needed it. Most importantly, it gave me Ryan, and Ryan saved me. ❤️ taken in Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park by @ryan_vanblarcum

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2 years ago

in case you weren’t aware, Y’ALL MEANS ALL!!!! 🏳️‍🌈⭐️ taken in American Airlines Center by @ryan_vanblarcum

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a year ago

sunburns, corkscrews, first podiums, and hugs aplenty 💫 taken in WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca by @ryan_vanblarcum

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a year ago

🏡 by @ryan_vanblarcum

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11 days ago

baseball, (gay) bars and best friends. isn’t that the most american thing you’ve ever heard of? ⚾️🇺🇸🍻🎆 taken in Houston, Texas by @ryan_vanblarcum

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20 days ago

harry styles been real quiet since last night by @ryan_vanblarcum

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2 months ago

☕️🍸🏎️🐾📖🎾 by @ryan_vanblarcum

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2 months ago

may these april showers bring unforgettable flowers 🔅 by @ryan_vanblarcum

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3 months ago

who’s up letting hockey season linger? by @ryan_vanblarcum

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3 months ago

oh my my, what a time to be alive <3 taken in Dallas, Texas by @ryan_vanblarcum

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3 months ago

the stars were out last night 🌟 taken in American Airlines Center by @ryan_vanblarcum

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3 months ago

weMVP 🌟 taken in Frost Bank Center by @ryan_vanblarcum

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3 months ago