It’s no secret that Ryan Blaney is one of NASCAR’s biggest Star Wars fans. From dressing up as Princess Leia to making her lightsaber, the 2023 Cup champion has embarked on an exciting journey to becoming a Jedi. That being said, Blaney would be saddened to know that Dale Earnhardt Jr experienced one of the greatest honors a Star Wars fan could ask for, without even asking for it.
As the broadcaster’s coverage of Amazon’s 2024 Cup toured the world to promote The Intimidator documentary, Earnhardt Jr shared an exciting story on The Rich Eisen Show.
Dale Earnhardt Jr shares information about his meeting with George Lucas
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this advertisement.
The 2024 season is shaping up to be quite intense for Dale Earnhardt Jr, even without his presence in a Next-Gen car. The Dale Jr Download host will take the microphone for the Amazon Cup Series debut in 2024 and is a vital part of the giant’s entry into NASCAR. Speaking of which, Dale Earnhardt Jr highlighted some big names who had appeared at the premiere of Amazon Prime Video’s four-part documentary about Intimidator.
Among big names like Reese Witherspoon, Junior greatly appreciated the presence of a man. NASCAR’s own Ricky Bobby made an appearance, prompting Junior to share a “cool memory” he had with Will Ferrell. The JR Motorsports owner shared: “So he did Talladega Nights and all of us at NASCAR were really excited about it, and they came to me and said, “Do you want to see the whole movie for the first time?” It’s not fully published yet, but you can see it.”
Since Junior was in Sonoma, California at the time for that weekend’s Cup race, the former #8 driver immediately agreed. But what he didn’t expect was the location of this private screening and, more importantly, the people who would be present. Junior revealed, “They took us to Skywalker Ranch. Which was great, right? Because we were at Skywalker Ranch walking around, George Lucas, all that cool stuff.”
The DJD host explained how his team sat in a screening room when the unexpected happened. He added: “We sit down to watch it in one of those little movie theaters and George Lucas comes in and sits down and watches the whole movie. Will Ferrell said, “Well, did he laugh?” and I said, “Yes, he laughed. “We all laughed.” It was a great movie.” With Will Ferrel also surprised by George Lucas’ presence, Junior tried to remain calm as he sat right in front of Lucas.
Earnhardt Jr concluded by noting how excited he was to be able to see Talladega Nights and Will Ferrel’s performance. George Lucas’s gift was the icing on the cake. While Junior got to experience one of the best NASCAR movies with one of the best directors in Hollywood, Ryan Blaney certainly hasn’t had that luck so far in his “journey.” The reigning champion and Star Wars fan may have to wait until the Talladega Nights sequel for a similar opportunity!
With that being said, here’s a look at Ryan Blaney’s favorite moments from the Star Wars franchise!
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this advertisement.
The moments from George Lucas’ masterpiece that gave Ryan Blaney goosebumps
Receive instant notifications of the hottest NASCAR stories through Google! Click Follow us and tap the Blue Star.
follow us
In 2020, Ryan Blaney was interviewed by USA Today about his Star Wars obsession. In addition to sharing his exploits on Disney World’s Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run and Rise of the Resistance attractions, Blaney also revealed some of the most intense moments from the Star Wars franchise. Unlike casual fans, Blaney was able to predict the biggest reveal of all.
The Penske driver shared: “So, it’s tough, right? I watched the prequels first before watching the originals with just the timeline I was born in. So when I got to the line “I am your father,” I already knew it. So that part is still a great line, but you know it’s coming.” Although Blaney found the moment predictable, that didn’t stop Darth Vader’s (Anakin Skywalker) big reveal from being “pretty cool.”
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this advertisement.
That being said, an important and heartbreaking moment in the franchise for Blaney came during the Phantom Menace installment. Blaney shared: “In Phantom Menace, when Qui-Gon Jinn is killed. I remember seeing that when he was a child and being very distraught. I was like, “Man, you killed Liam Neeson, man. That’s crazy”.
While Dale Earnhardt Jr may have been in the same room as George Lucas before Ryan Blaney, the day the same happens for the Star Wars fan will also be the day he fulfills his aspiration to become a “Jedi.”
Keynote USA
For the Latest Sports News, Follow @Keynote USA Sports on Twitter.