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Ryan Blaney Hilariously Claims “PR Guy” Position as New York Knicks Debacle Highlights Bubba Wallace’s Popularity

Published 02/11/2024, 1:56 AM EST

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USA Today via Reuters

Ryan Blaney and Bubba Wallace are a dynamic duo. Having grown to prominence as the best of friends, their relationship has only strengthened with time. However, the 23XI Racing driver can sometimes hog the limelight instead of the 2023 Cup Series champion. Speaking on the popular podcast The Money Lap, Ryan Blaney reveals his view on taking over the role of Bubba’s ‘PR guy.’

Ryan Blaney and Bubba Wallace were present at the NBA game between the New York Knicks and the Indiana Pacers on January 31. Being among some of the notable celebrities to grace Madison Square Garden, Blaney expected the cameras to be on them. Instead, the #12 driver was the one with the camera, taking photos of Bubba Wallace.

Ryan Blaney disguises himself as Bubba Wallace’s photographer

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Bubba Wallace and Ryan Blaney are some of the most popular Cup Series drivers on the current roster. However, Blaney might edge a popularity contest due to last year’s championship win. This wasn’t the case on January 31. The New York Knicks released a post-game picture of Bubba Wallace at the MSG, despite him being seated next to the 2023 Cup champ.

Joking about the debacle, Ryan Blaney claimed, “Hey, I always say, dude, I’m his photographer when I’m out with him. Like ‘Hey Bubba. Hey, who are you?’ I’m just a PR guy.”

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The image gathered much traction on social media, inviting criticism toward the Knicks. While some fans also questioned their intentions as they cropped Ryan Blaney out of the picture, others even claimed that the Knicks didn’t recognize a champion when they saw one. However, later, Blaney took a jab on the same as through a tweet earlier, adding fuel to the fire.

Furthermore, Bubba Wallace even disclosed that the cameraman asked the duo to get closer so that he could take a picture. Bubba tweeted last week, “Even told us to scoot closer to get both of us…still cropped it.”

Ryan Blaney and Bubba are among the nine drivers to feature in ‘NASCAR: Full Speed.’ Having been under Netflix’s spotlight through ‘Race: Bubba Wallace,’ the Alabama native was aware of the proceedings. On the other hand, Blaney revealed the joy of watching his championship victory through a cinematic lens in a conversation with Today.

Blaney claims he could have had one more championship victory

Ryan Blaney’s march to the 2023 championship race was a daunting task. After getting knocked out of the Round of 8 for three successive seasons, the pressure was on the 30-year-old to make his chances count. Following his win in the penultimate race at Martinsville, Blaney was all set on the path to greatness. Speaking to Today, the Team Penske driver opined that Netflix could have won him one more championship.

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When asked about his thoughts on ‘NASCAR: Full Speed,’ Ryan Blaney responded, “Obviously, it worked out great for me. For me, Netflix should have done this five years ago. I could have had one more championship.

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NASCAR: Full Speed highlighted a severe dilemma in the sport. When Bubba Wallace took to the track in Round 12, he had to fend off his best friend Ryan Blaney, and vice versa. The documentary expertly sheds light on how drivers can reach a crossroads when competing against their close ones and how it requires the strongest of wills.

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Written by:

Ansuman Abhisek

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Ansuman Abhisek is a NASCAR Writer at EssentiallySports. Even before he made his way into the world of motorsports, he had already made a name for himself in the sports journalism field by working as a writer for a few media houses. Now, having covered multiple Cup races live, he has often been the first to report on-track incidents and also provide his readers with an in-depth analysis of the same.
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Edited by:

Shivali Nathta