Chase Elliott v Ryan Blaney
By Richard Tix
Elliott and Blaney. Two names known around the NASCAR world far before 2016 rookie of the year candidates Chase and Ryan came along. "Awesome Bill from Dawsonville" or "Million Dollar Bill" are names known far an wide when you talk fans who have followed the sport for awhile now.
Dave Blaney didn't have the same type NASCAR career as Bill Elliott did, but he was a well known name and driver on the circuit. He was a very well known Sprint Car driver before getting his shot in NASCAR as a World of Outlaws Champion (1995). In 200 Dave Blaney ran for rookie of the year and finished 3rd (which his son Ryan should beat in 2016).
So, as most know both Chase Elliott and Ryan Blaney will make there 2016 rookie campaigns after short stints in the past year (or two for Blaney) at the Cup level. Both have been successful in different ways at multiple levels of racing along the way. This upcoming year is shaping up to be a fun rookie race that hopefully pans out better than the 2014 race between Austin Dillon and Kyle Larson. One thing is for sure, the young talent is coming and coming fast.
Chase Elliott #24
NASCAR
Sprint Cup Series
|
||||||||||
Year
|
Age
|
Races
|
Win
|
T5
|
T10
|
Pole
|
Laps
|
Led
|
Rank
|
AvFn
|
2015
|
19
|
5 of 36
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
1617
|
0
|
26.2
|
|
Total
|
5
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
1617
|
0
|
26.2
|
||
NASCAR
Xfinity Series
|
||||||||||
Year
|
Age
|
Races
|
Win
|
T5
|
T10
|
Pole
|
Laps
|
Led
|
Rank
|
AvFn
|
2014
|
18
|
33 of 33
|
3
|
16
|
26
|
2
|
6037
|
390
|
1
|
8
|
2015
|
19
|
33 of 33
|
1
|
11
|
27
|
0
|
6006
|
236
|
2
|
8.9
|
Total
|
66
|
4
|
27
|
53
|
2
|
12043
|
626
|
8.5
|
||
NASCAR
Camping World Truck Series
|
||||||||||
Year
|
Age
|
Races
|
Win
|
T5
|
T10
|
Pole
|
Laps
|
Led
|
Rank
|
AvFn
|
2013
|
17
|
9 of 22
|
1
|
5
|
7
|
1
|
1504
|
100
|
22
|
9.7
|
Total
|
9
|
1
|
5
|
7
|
1
|
1504
|
100
|
9.7
|
||
Chase ran an handful of Cup races in 2015 in the fifth Hendrick car (#25). In 2014 he won the Xfinity (was Nationwide at that time) Championship in just his first year in the series and followed that up with a runner up season in 2015. He has limited national seat time, but he has seemed ready since stepping into the JRM #9 in 2014. This upcoming year he moves into the hole left by Jeff Gordon and takes over the #24. It will be big shoes to fill and everyone with Hendrick and Chase will say he is not trying to fill them but create his own legacy, but reality is people will see the #24 and judge him based off Jeff. He will forever be linked with Gordon and also fellow rookie of the year candidate Ryan Blaney.
- 2016 Chase Elliott Preview
- Chase Elliott Career Paint Schemes
Ryan Blaney #21
NASCAR
Sprint Cup Series
|
||||||||||
Year
|
Age
|
Races
|
Win
|
T5
|
T10
|
Pole
|
Laps
|
Led
|
Rank
|
AvFn
|
2014
|
20
|
2 of 36
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
457
|
15
|
24.5
|
|
2015
|
21
|
16 of 36
|
0
|
1
|
2
|
0
|
3622
|
5
|
25.3
|
|
Total
|
18
|
0
|
1
|
2
|
0
|
4079
|
20
|
25.2
|
||
NASCAR
Xfinity Series
|
||||||||||
Year
|
Age
|
Races
|
Win
|
T5
|
T10
|
Pole
|
Laps
|
Led
|
Rank
|
AvFn
|
2012
|
18
|
13 of 33
|
0
|
1
|
7
|
0
|
2502
|
0
|
13.5
|
|
2013
|
19
|
3 of 33
|
1
|
1
|
3
|
0
|
650
|
96
|
6.7
|
|
2014
|
20
|
14 of 33
|
1
|
10
|
13
|
1
|
3072
|
207
|
5.8
|
|
2015
|
21
|
13 of 33
|
2
|
9
|
10
|
0
|
2401
|
403
|
22
|
9.6
|
Total
|
43
|
4
|
21
|
33
|
1
|
8625
|
706
|
9.3
|
||
NASCAR
Camping World Truck Series
|
||||||||||
Year
|
Age
|
Races
|
Win
|
T5
|
T10
|
Pole
|
Laps
|
Led
|
Rank
|
AvFn
|
2012
|
18
|
9 of 22
|
1
|
2
|
5
|
0
|
1277
|
66
|
26
|
11.8
|
2013
|
19
|
22 of 22
|
1
|
8
|
13
|
2
|
3281
|
154
|
6
|
11.5
|
2014
|
20
|
22 of 22
|
1
|
12
|
17
|
2
|
3168
|
181
|
2
|
7.8
|
2015
|
21
|
5 of 23
|
1
|
4
|
5
|
1
|
794
|
95
|
3.2
|
|
Total
|
58
|
4
|
26
|
40
|
5
|
8520
|
496
|
9.4
|
||
Blaney finally gets to run a full time ride at the Cup level after running full time in zero series in 2015. Ryan has shown flashes of great things to come during partial seasons, even while in the #21 Wood Borthers ride (with Team Penske backing). It was awesome to hear Wood Brothers would be running full time again at the Cup level and even better that they will do it with such a young and talented driver. He has also run fantastic when given the chance in a Xfinity car (4 wins in the last three years despite running 14 or less races a season) and made his name a common won in the truck series in 2013 and 2014 (his only two full time seasons at any national level).
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