Fansided

15 athletes who are pop culture superfans

By Bruin Belisle

BROOKLYN, NY - FEBRUARY 14: Zach LaVine of the Minnesota Timberwolves dunks during the Sprite Slam Dunk Contest at the 2015 State Farm All-Star Saturday Night on February 14, 2015 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2015 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
BROOKLYN, NY - FEBRUARY 14: Zach LaVine of the Minnesota Timberwolves dunks during the Sprite Slam Dunk Contest at the 2015 State Farm All-Star Saturday Night on February 14, 2015 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2015 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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WATKINS GLEN, NY – AUGUST 04: Ryan Blaney, driver of the #12 PPG Ford, stands in the garage during practice for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series GoBowling at The Glen at Watkins Glen International on August 4, 2018 in Watkins Glen, New York. (Photo by Sarah Crabill/Getty Images) /

5. Ryan Blaney: Star Wars

“Who?” is what I said when my editor (a huge racing fan who also runs FanSided’s NASCAR coverage) told me I had to include Ryan Blaney in this post. A quick google search proved he belonged on this list. His love for Star Wars is on another level.

Ryan Blaney is a 24-year-old NASCAR driver who drives the No. 12 Ford Fusion for Team Penske in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series (and the No. 22 Ford Mustang part-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series).

Blaney comes from a long list of racing legends. His father Dave was a NASCAR driver and his grandfather Lou was a dirt track legend. Ryan’s father Dale was actually drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers but chose to pursue a career in racing instead.

Long standing tradition and history is clearly a big part of Aaron’s racing life so it’s only fitting that it also implies to his life off the track. Ryan Blaney is probably the biggest athlete Star Wars fan you’ll ever come across.

In fact, Blaney knows the Star Wars series so well that he can cover all of the important parts of the first seven films for you in just over two minutes. While driving an RV.

SPOILER ALERT:

If you haven’t seen the movies, now you no longer have to. Blaney’s fandom reached new heights upon the release of Episode 8, which he attended the premiere of last December. Blaney said the movie blew his mind, which is also how I felt so all you Star Wars purists and general haters can beat it.

Blaney has a win and 12 top five finishes so far in the early days of his NASCAR career. At only 24, there’s a chance he’ll still be on the track when pod racing becomes a reality. We (and he) can only hope.

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