Friends are our lifeline during the blues and our jubilant partners in life’s peak moments, aren’t they? But friendship offers an even more delightful twist: what belongs to you becomes a shared treasure, and the reverse is just as true. When Bubba Wallace announced to the media his intention to gift his helmet to his best friend, Ryan Blaney, he likely echoed this sentiment. However, as a fervent Star Wars aficionado, Ryan Blaney isn’t quite ready to part with it just yet.

Ryan Blaney, with a Star Wars insignia inked onto his right leg, can effortlessly reel off the intricacies of each film and has even rubbed shoulders with a star from the trilogy’s recent chapters. While Bubba Wallace’s promise hangs in the air, the anticipation builds: Will Ryan Blaney manage to claim Wallace’s helmet, or at the very least, his racing suit? The saga continues…

Did Ryan Blaney just harbor a hint of envy toward Bubba Wallace for a Star Wars escapade?

Witnessing his best buddy embody a dream in flesh and blood, Ryan Blaney couldn’t help but confess to a twinge of jealousy over Bubba Wallace’s adventures. The 23XI Racing ace had the enviable chance to rendezvous with Mark Hamill and shoot a promotional piece for the Columbia and Star Wars alliance that Wallace will flaunt during the NASCAR Championship weekend.

Bubba Wallace didn’t just share screen time with Hamill; he also captured moments with him alongside a car revamped to mirror a Rebel X-Wing. As Wallace geared up to unleash his Luke Skywalker mojo in Phoenix, Ryan Blaney couldn’t help but feel a shade of green creeping over him. Blaney’s passion for Star Wars is hardly a secret. So, it might have stung a bit to watch Wallace snag the dream sponsorship. Jeff Gluck from The Athletic probed Blaney on this during a media session this week.

“I was stung… I knew he did it. He told me he was going out there to do it. He showed me the helmet he was painting for it. I’m trying to get him to trade me that helmet. He doesn’t trade helmets. Even with me, he doesn’t trade helmets. What do you want? What do you want me to trade?” Blaney shared with a mix of jest and earnestness.

He further continued, “It was cool, though. It’s awesome for the sport, right? That’s so cool. I’m jealous he got to meet Mark Hamill. Yeah, I was a little hurt when I saw that. But happy for him. Super happy. Even though he never has seen Star Wars in his life.”

However, what got Ryan Blaney excited was that in the run-up to the Phoenix showdown, Wallace teased, “If he wins the championship, I might give it to him. I’ll give it to him. Maybe. I’ve just always loved my helmets.”

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And with Blaney fully aware that Wallace isn’t the Star Wars connoisseur he is, he clings to that sliver of hope. “I was begging for his helmet. He said one of them has got to go to the CEO of [sponsor] Columbia. One of them is going for auction. So, I might have to be bidding on that one for an auction. Or I might be able to get a firesuit. The fire suit was pretty awesome as well. One of those things, I’m going to try to push him into giving me.”

As we await the latest news on the great helmet barter, Bubba Wallace didn’t miss the chance to honor Ryan Blaney’s triumph with a nostalgic homage.

Bubba Wallace toasts Blaney’s victory with a dash of nostalgia

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Amid the roar of engines and the sweet smell of victory, Ryan Blaney seized his inaugural NASCAR Cup Series championship this Sunday, with accolades pouring in from his racing brethren. In the throes of the 2023 playoffs, Blaney’s performance was nothing short of heroic, culminating in a breathtaking race at Phoenix Raceway.

The Team Penske stalwart soared to a second-place finish, sailing past Kyle Larson and anchoring his team’s second consecutive championship following Joey Logano’s triumph last season. Bubba Wallace, bound by a close-knit friendship with Blaney, took to social media with a whimsical throwback—the pair feasting on waffles in the spirit of camaraderie.

“Brother. Champ,” Wallace captioned the image, a fitting salute shared on Twitter this Sunday. As the final Cup Series standings crowned Blaney, Wallace himself clinched a commendable 10th place after a valiant playoff run.

As the dust settles and the celebrations echo, we’re left to wonder: Will Ryan Blaney be able to get Bubba Wallace’s coveted Star Wars-themed helmet as the ultimate token of their friendship? The anticipation is as electric as the final laps of the racetrack.

Read More: Ryan Blaney on His “Close Friend” Chase Elliott Sharing the Championship Moment at Phoenix