"We've taken a lot of really cool trips" - Chase Elliott opens up about his bromance with Ryan Blaney

Hendrick Motorsports ace Chase Elliott recently shed light on his close bond with reigning NASCAR Cup Series champion Ryan Blaney. Blaney and Elliott have together shared the NASCAR center stage on multiple occasions.

Coming through the ranks of legendary NASCAR team Hendrick Motorsports, the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series champion Chase Elliott has established himself as one of the best drivers in the world. At 28, the second-generation racing mastermind has already secured multiple accolades and remains one of the most popular drivers on the circuit.

Beyond the racetrack, Elliott has maintained a close bond with many of his peers in the motorsport community. One such figure that the 28-year-old driver holds close to his heart is Team Penske's Ryan Blaney.

Like Chase Elliott, Blaney too came across the ranks of a premium NASCAR outfit in Team Penske. Having displayed immense potential throughout his career, Ryan Blaney achieved the sport's highest crown last season when he clinched his maiden NASCAR Cup Series championship.

As he celebrated his historic win alongside his fianceé (then girlfriend) Gianna Tulio, it was none other than Elliott who joined Ryan Blaney, congratulating the Ohio native despite enduring a tumultuous season himself.

Recently, Chase Elliott elaborated on his close-knit bond with Ryan Blaney while speaking to journalist Kyle Dalton. Elliott said:

"I’ve known Ryan for a long time. I knew him when we were kids growing up around the racetrack with his dad racing and my dad racing at a similar time. So, we kind of always had that relationship. And then ultimately, we had a very similar path to getting here.

"We spent many of our younger years in racing going to the same racetracks and racing the same kind of cars. That was when I feel like our relationship grew because we started to spend more time around each other. 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.

"We've taken a lot of really cool trips," he added.

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Chase Elliott expresses gratitude for his and Ryan Blaney's career together

Elliott's and Blaney's paths indeed crossed in many significant ways, with both drivers navigating the challenges and triumphs of a professional racing career. Chase Elliott expressed gratitude for their shared journey, stating:

"I think even more cool that we both have been fortunate enough to live out our dreams and to make it here.

"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."

Chase Elliott is currently ranked second in the NASCAR Cup Series standings after 19 races, with 644 points to his name. Meanwhile, Ryan Blaney, with 560 points, finds himself in eighth position.