NASCAR drivers may be fierce competitors on the track. However, there are endless tales wherein they often share a close bond with each other. Case in point: Ross Chastain once shared the same neighborhood with two of his closest buddies, whom he intends to see in the playoffs with him.

During a post-race interview at Indianapolis, Chastain revealed some personal tidbits about some good old days with his friend Michael McDowell and Travis Peterson, the former’s crew chief. In an unexpected turn of events, Ross Chastain chose not to mention the renowned Dale Earnhardt Jr, despite the fact that Earnhardt was crucial to Chastain’s “cheap” survival strategy.

Many fans and industry insiders have conjectured about the dynamics of Chastain and Junior’s relationship and the likely causes of his choice to remain silent about Earnhardt’s influence.

“We had a pretty good landlord”: Ross Chastain reminisces his old days

As per nbcsports.com, Ross Chastain donned a reflective hat while discussing Michael McDowell’s notable Indianapolis race victory. Chastain remarked with evident pride, “Super happy for Travis Peterson and Michael McDowell, my old dirty Mo… Possey Hill neighbor. It’s so cool to see my friends have success.

“And what just started as a neighbor turned into a friendship, and now crew chief on the 34. It’s so cool to see him win, and happy for those guys.”

Furthermore, Chastain reminisced about seeking McDowell’s counsel during his house-hunting days. Drawing a parallel to youngsters venturing out for the first time, he lauded his then-landlord without divulging a name, saying, “A few of us, just a couple of 18–20-year-old kids moving in, and we had a pretty good landlord that rented us some places too; it’s pretty cheap.”

The puzzle piece clicked when Dale Earnhardt Jr, in a generous gesture, recently proposed renting out one of his properties to SVG. Dale Jr’s podcast further emphasized this, hinting strongly at SVG’s need to peruse reviews about his rental offerings.

Watch This Story: Trackhouse Boss Justin Marks Could Lose SVG to Bigger NASCAR Sharks

SVG moving to the United States; may live in one of Dale Earnhardt Jr’s rentals

The whispers suggested that SVG’s shift to NASCAR was on the distant horizon. Yet, a recent tête-à-tête between Dale Earnhardt Jr. and SVG seems to hint at an expedited timeline.

The fascinating dialogue about SVG, another prominent driver in the racing industry, and his housing issue was included on the former NASCAR driver’s podcast. Always the host, Dale Jr inquired about SVG’s relocation intentions. In a lighthearted interjection, Mike Davis pointed out that Dale has acted as a landlord for several NASCAR Cup Series drivers.

Earnhardt Jr said in passing that “Ross literally rented from us until just a couple of years ago.”

And with this revelation, it’s impossible to avoid drawing connections between Chastain’s mention of a “pretty good landlord” who provided reasonably priced housing and Dale’s identification of Chastain as one of his tenants. Despite this obvious connection, Chastain’s hesitation to include Earnhardt Jr. is still puzzling.

Why would Chastain be reluctant to acknowledge this relationship with a well-known NASCAR veteran? The answer may lie deep inside the complexity of interpersonal and professional interactions, or it may be hidden in an effort to craft a story apart from the enormous shadow of the legendary Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Read More: Ross Chastain’s Road Course Troubles Continue as Both Trackhouse Racing Teammates Bag Top-10 Finish