"I'm a little bit better than him" - When Ryan Blaney teased Chase Elliott over his golf skills
Chase Elliott and Ryan Blaney once discussed their golfing skills in a candid conversation. The two fierce Cup Series rivals share a friendship bond outside the racetrack, as seen in Blaney's jibe at the Hendrick Motorsports star's golfing skills.
In a 2022 interview, the 2020 Cup Series champion, Elliott, claimed he's "terrible" at golf and said he'd be proud if he managed a score under 100. Moreover, Elliott praised Team Penske driver Blaney on his skills.
"Ryan is pretty good. He's pissed off if he shoots in the high 80s," said Elliott
Then, the 2023 Cup Series champion, Blaney, shared his two cents on Elliott's golfing prowess, saying:
"Chase, you know, is a good golfer. I would say I'm a little bit better than him. There's a moment of brilliance in his game. And then, very big moment of shattering to pieces. I go golfing a lot, nowadays. I'm a member at a country club. So that's how serious it is."
Here are some pictures of Blaney golfing with Elliott and 23XI Racing's Bubba Wallace in February 2022 posted by Penske driver on X(formerly Twitter):
"He was definitely that guy for me" - Chase Elliott on sharing a friendship with Ryan Blaney
Having known each other since their early racing days and coming from racing families, Chase Elliott believes that his relationship with Ryan Blaney has grown naturally over time. Both former Cup Series champions' fathers, Bill Elliott and Dave Blaney, raced during the same era of stock car racing.
In a July conversation, the 28-year-old opened up on his friendship with Penske driver Blaney, saying (via Kyle Dalton):
"You know when you’re on the road a lot it’s nice to have a buddy. He was definitely that guy for me. It just kind of so happened that our paths crossed. And I think even more cool that we both have been fortunate enough to live out our dreams and to make it here." [0:40]
Furthermore, Elliott added:
"I would say for the both of us, if our careers ended tomorrow, we’ve lived a vast majority of our dream already, which I think is really cool and that’s just not something you get to see every day with somebody that you’re close to and respect."
In the 2024 Cup Series season that recently concluded, HMS' Elliott showcased impressive performances throughout the year, ending seventh in the final points standings.
On the other hand, the defending Cup Series champion, Blaney, finished runner-up behind his Penske teammate, Joey Logano.
However, they are still in contention for another award, NASCAR's Most Popular Driver award.