“One of the Greatest Personalities”: NASCAR Champ Chase Elliott Once Vouched for Now Sacked F1 Driver Daniel Ricciardo

Daniel Ricciardo has a lively persona that can attract any human being. His infectious smile can turn anyone’s dull day into a bright one. The Honey Badger has charmed a lot of people in his career, and one of them is 2020 NASCAR Cup Series champion Chase Elliott. Last year, a video came out that comprised both stars. In the video, Elliot revealed the place where he met the Australian driver for the first time.

It’s well-known how big a fan Daniel Ricciardo is of NASCAR. The Australian driver adores the late seven times champion Dale Earnhardt and even has the same racing number as him.

Last year, Daniel Ricciardo gave a special message to his good friend Chase Elliott before the race at the Circuit of The Americas. The advice from the Australian driver worked for the American racer as he won the race. The conversation was quite interesting as after receiving some important tips from Ricciardo, Elliot appreciated the Mclaren driver and said, “love it, What an awesome guy he is um.. yeah no he probably one of the greatest personalities I feel like in racing.”

He further revealed where the two of them met for the first time, “so I met Daniel at the Texas race a few years ago and became friends and kind of kept up with each other since so really cool I appreciate the tips buddy.”

READ MORE: “Get My A*s Handed To Me”: Daniel Ricciardo Confesses the Only Way NASCAR Dream Can Turn to Reality

His love for the sport led Ricciardo to visit a NASCAR Cup Series race in Texas once.

 Daniel Ricciardo once visited Texas for the NASCAR race

Daniel Ricciardo was a guest of Chase Elliott when he reached at a NASCAR cup series. Back in 2017, when the Honey Badger was with the Red Bulls, he made a visit to AAA Texas 500 race. It was Hendrick Motorsports driver Chase Elliott, who hosted him for the first time. Being an admirer of Dale Earnhardt Sr. Ricciardo planned to revisit Texas to watch his son, Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s final start at the track as a full-time Cup driver.

The ex-Red Bull driver told NBCSN F1 pit reporter Will Buxton, “The Earnhardt family is a huge name in motorsport, not only in America but all over the world. Yeah I wish him well. Hopefully, I get to see him perform well in Texas. I’m gonna try to do a helmet swap with him. We’ll see how we go,” said Ricciardo.

Before the swapping of helmets with Earnhardt, the flamboyant Australian met Joey Logano and enjoyed the pre-race atmosphere with Elliot.

WATCH THIS STORY: Daniel Ricciardo Set to Drive NASCAR Legend Dale Earnhardt’s 1984 Chevrolet Car at Texas

The Mclaren driver is still in search of a team as he’ll be leaving the Mclaren at the end of this year. The F1 grid surely wants the talented Daniel Ricciardo, who, time from time, has shown his potential. Do you think Daniel will come back to the 2024 grid?