"I'm not gonna push it" - When Chase Elliott discussed Ryan Blaney's last-minute rejection of concert invitation

Chase Elliott once recalled the time Ryan Blaney rejected his invitation to a concert. Despite getting ditched out at the last minute, Elliott said he won’t force Blaney or anyone to attend events based on his invitations.

Aired in 2019, Elliott talked about feeling upset by people not attending events he had invited them to. The No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports driver then brought up Blaney, who was set to join him for a concert but canceled when it was time to purchase plane tickets.

Speaking with NBC Sports, Elliott shared how he learned to move on after Blaney, 30, declined his concert invitation.

“It’s one of those things Rutledge you accept and you build the bridge and you get over it, I’ve learned. I tried to invite Ryan to a concert last weekend and, you know, two months ago 'Great idea, yeah, I’m coming’ then came to buy plane tickets and no such thing. So here are, left out again,” Elliot stated. [4:02]

The now 28-year-old driver was asked whether the concert was a heavy metal show, which was something Blaney would fancy considering he is a metalhead. He said it wasn’t, albeit Blaney told him he liked the performer.

“No it wasn’t a heavy metal concert but I mean I feel like he at least like the guy, you know, or he claimed to, so I don’t know. I mean it happens, I get it.” [4:51]

Elliott added:

“I’m not going to push it. If you’re not wanted, you’re not wanted. So I’m just going to keep cruising and yeah, I just try to stay on the straight and narrow and maybe one day they’ll hang out with me again.”

Elliott and Blaney remain good friends to this day. The two longtime friends often enjoy vacations and golfing together as a way to spend quality time.

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Chase Elliott once felt like Ryan Blaney was poking fun at his winless Cup career

In 2019, Chase Elliott recalled a conversation with Ryan Blaney where they discussed exchanging helmets. They agreed to swap the helmets they wore during their first Cup victories. At the time, Elliott had not yet achieved his first win in the premier series. As such, felt like his buddy was taking a jab at his then three-year winless Cup career.

Speaking with Andrew Kurland, the 28-year-old said:

“He said, ‘Well, I’ll do that, you know. I’ll take your first Cup win helmet if you ever get one.’ He was kind of giving me a jab there too.” [0:42]

He added:

“We would swap if that day ever came and luckily, it did, and yeah, I have his and he has mine.”

Elliott recorded his first NASCAR Cup Series win at Watkins Glen in August 2018. The Georgia native later bagged two more wins in the 2018 season, while Ryan Blaney achieved one win at the Charlotte Motor Speedway Roval.

Chase Elliott celebrated with Ryan Blaney on winning the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series championship - (Source: Imagn)

The two drivers would eventually become Cup Series champions. Elliott achieved the feat in 2020 followed by Blaney in 2023.