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Twitter brings Ryan Blaney together with ‘biggest little fan’ at Disney World

Daytona International Speedway - Media Day

DAYTONA BEACH, FL - FEBRUARY 14: Ryan Blaney, driver of the #12 Menards/Peak Ford, speaks with the media during the Daytona 500 Media Day at Daytona International Speedway on February 14, 2018 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Robert Laberge/Getty Images)

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Michael Bell doesn’t tweet often.

Since joining Twitter in August 2012, Bell has tweeted just 15 times beginning in August 2016.

But his last seven tweets were all about his son, Natty, getting to meet his favorite NASCAR driver - Ryan Blaney.

The meeting occurred Tuesday at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida, roughly an hour from Daytona International Speedway where Blaney is taking part in Speedweeks. The park is a long way from Red Lion, Pennsylvania, which Bell claims as his home on Twitter.

The first tweet toward bringing Natty and Blaney together was sent on Dec. 30, the day before the driver’s 24th birthday.

Blaney actually saw that tweet and liked it.

The next day, Bell and Natty wished Blaney a happy birthday.

Bell didn’t tweet again until Tuesday - 46 days later - when he and his family were at the Hollywood Studios portion of the park, where Blaney, his sister and a friend happened to be.

“I saw that and his kid was wearing my shirt,” Blaney said Wednesday during Daytona 500 Media Day. “Said he was my biggest fan. ... We were eating and were able to meet up with them for a little bit. That was pretty cool how they were out there and they took the time to come hang out and meet us for a little bit. His whole family was there and he had a couple of other kids who were fans, too. I thought the timing was pretty cool, how they were in the same spot as us and pretty happy to make that happen.”

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