By Lewis Franck, Staff Writer

INDIANAPOLIS – Ordinarily, Ryan Blaney’s mustache is not big news. And it’s no surprise that the 2023 Cup champion doesn’t like pickles. He’s said it many times.

Coincidentally, the NASCAR in-season challenge, which culminates at the Brickyard 400, comes down to a match between the #12 Ford Mustang Dark Horse driver and Front Row Motorsport’s Grillo’s Pickles-sponsored driver Todd Gilliland.

And that’s where the good-natured fun of the two drivers’ social media teams came up with some creative videos. Yes, pickles were harmed during this endeavor.

Blaney told the media at the iconic Indianapolis Motor Speedway how it happened.

“I thought it was a good idea when (Team) Penske brought it to me, and they didn’t know that I absolutely, and this is an actual (pickle) thing. I hate pickles. I absolutely despise pickles. All pickles. Not just Grillo’s. I hate every single one of them. So they were like, ‘Hey, we need you to take a bite out of this pickle.’ And I was like, ‘That’s gonna be a really big ask for me.’”

He did it. But he definitely didn’t like it.

“That took me 10 minutes to wash it out of my mustache after I ate it but it was fun,” Blaney said. “I was happy that Penske had some fun with it and it was fun to play around.”

https://x.com/Team_Penske/status/2080352135196148005?s=20

Of course, Front Row had a slight objection to actual pickle that Blaney chose to eat. And so the games begin.

Here’s Gilliland’s response:

https://x.com/Team_FRM/status/2080693253972582805?s=20

Back to Blaney’s moustache. What happens if he wins the Brickyard 400 and he must bend down and kiss the bricks?

“I would take that. I would lick pickle juice off the bricks if I have to. I’ll take that” Blaney said with a smile.