Chase Elliott gives bold take on Ryan Blaney’s 2025 NASCAR season heading into playoffs

Off the track, Chase Elliott and Ryan Blaney are good friends. On it, they are both embattled in a championship fight in the NASCAR Playoffs. When you look at the numbers, and if you’ve been paying attention, it won’t shock you to hear what Elliott thinks about Blaney’s 2025 season.

Chase Elliott is known for flying under the radar. His mild-mannered attitude and laid-back character help him avoid controversy at times.

But there is one driver who might be having a better, quieter season than Elliott. That’s last week’s winner, Ryan Blaney.

Chase Elliott was asked about Blaney during Playoff Media Day by Jeff Gluck and Jordan Bianchi on The Teardown. Elliott had nothing but good things to say about his friend and on-track rival.

“I think it applies for sure,” Elliott said, looking ahead at the playoff schedule. “I mean, look at Saturday night. You know, Ryan was, you know, he’s been probably the best – between him and Denny, I would say, they’ve been the best plate racers since I’ve been in Cup. Really, hands down, every year. So, that didn’t surprise me. I don’t think that really surprised anyone. But I think from Ryan in particular, he’s probably had the most quiet, dominant year of anyone I’ve ever seen in the Cup Series. I mean, this guy probably could have won five or six races by now, very easily.”

Chase Elliott ‘curious’ to see Ryan Blaney perform

This season, seven DNFs have not helped Ryan Blaney make his case for having a “good year.” But racing is about more than just what is on the box score and the results sheet. There is a lot more nuance when it comes to motorsports performance.

Chase Elliott knows that there have been bumps in the road for the 12 team. He still sees a potential run from them deep in the playoffs.

“The numbers don’t show that. Engine failures here or bad pit stops there, whatever it was,” Elliott continued. “But we’re coming back to some tracks that I feel like they were lights out, way better than everyone else at, the first time in the season. So, really curious to see where the rest of the field stacks up to that team now. But I do think they’ve set the bar, as you go into these final, you know, not the whole ten, but to your point, the latter part of the ten that we have coming up.”