Chase Elliott’s playful banter about being left out of vacation plans with fellow NASCAR drivers Ryan Blaney and Bubba Wallace is a story that still draws smiles years later. Back in 2019, Elliott shared his frustration with a hint of humor during an interview with NBC Sports’ *Motormouth* at Daytona Media Day. Imagine being one of NASCAR’s top talents and still feeling like you’re missing out on the fun—Elliott did just that, pointing out how Blaney and Wallace went on exciting trips to Hawaii and Disney World without him. And what made it worse? Elliott, who had known Blaney since childhood, even tried to invite him to a concert. But, as Elliott jokingly revealed, Blaney never showed up. This light-hearted moment highlighted the friendly, yet teasing, dynamic among the drivers and gave fans a glimpse into the personal lives of these stars off the track.
Elliott’s comments were all in good fun, though the sting of not being invited was clear. “I didn’t go to Hawaii; I was not invited to Hawaii. And then they all went to Disney World yesterday, and guess who wasn’t invited? Yeah, what time did they go to bed last night? I don’t know… It’s been a bit of a rough go,” Elliott said, laughing at the situation. His casual disappointment continued as he shared how he had reached out to Blaney about attending a concert together. Blaney was initially excited, but as the date approached, the plans fell through. “I tried to invite Ryan to a concert last weekend. And you know, two months ago, ‘great idea. Yeah, I’m coming!’ And then came time to buy plane tickets, and no such thing. So here we are, left out again on the next trip,” Elliott joked. Despite the teasing tone, it was clear that Elliott felt a bit like the odd man out in their friendship trio at that moment.
As one of the top drivers for Hendrick Motorsports, Chase Elliott had plenty of successes on the track in 2019, registering three wins and four poles in the NASCAR Cup Series. Even though he managed to place 17th at the Daytona 500 and later took victories at Talladega, Martinsville, and the Charlotte Roval, his season wasn’t without its struggles. An engine failure at Dover and a crash at Phoenix prevented him from advancing to the Championship 4. But off the track, Elliott’s lighthearted complaints about his friends seemed to gain as much attention as his driving.
A year later, Ryan Blaney addressed the situation in an interview with *Acceleration Nation*, and his response added another layer of humor to the story. According to Blaney, Elliott was always welcome to join in on their adventures, but he often chose not to. “He’s [Chase Elliott] always invited, he just never wants to come. And then he likes to go to the media and say that we didn’t invite him and didn’t tell him. He always denies us, denies wanting to come for some reason. I don’t know why,” Blaney remarked, clearly amused by the ongoing banter between the two friends.
In the end, this playful exchange between Chase Elliott and Ryan Blaney is a reminder of the camaraderie that exists in NASCAR. While they compete fiercely on the track, off the track, it’s clear that these drivers are like a close-knit group of friends who enjoy poking fun at each other. Whether Elliott truly felt left out or was just playing up the situation for laughs, it’s moments like these that make fans love their favorite drivers even more. The friendly rivalry and joking nature of their friendship add a human touch to the high-speed world of NASCAR, making it relatable to fans who can easily imagine similar dynamics in their own friendships.
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CHASE ELLIOTT SNUBBED: NASCAR Star Exposes Shocking Exclusion from Blaney and Wallace’s Hawaiian Getaway
