Chase Elliott lost it at the most recent NASCAR Cup Series race at Pocono because of a contested penalty that might have affected his hopes of winning the regular season championship. Elliott was fined for an early merge back onto the track from pit road, using a tactic like to that of his racing rival Denny Hamlin.
Elliott broke the rules pertaining to blend lines for speeding on pit road and making an incorrect merge onto the racetrack. These rules state that drivers are required to use the warm-up lane until they exit turn 2. Elliott’s acrimonious response to the penalty was captured during the heated exchange that took place over the team radio. According to Essentially Sports, he said:
“What the f***, really? I followed the instructions on the f***ing sheet exactly as instructed by them.
Elliott’s crew chief, Alan Gustafson, was immediately taken aback by the situation and expressed confusion and concern. He acted quickly to get an explanation from race officials.
Reported by Gustafson via the team radio:
“I need an official to explain to me why we are being penalized.”
Elliott’s position and possibly his status in the championship points were greatly impacted by the drive-thru penalty he was forced to execute during the race. He placed ninth at the end of the race.
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Chase Elliott plan on changes he would make about NASCAR: 12 Questions
1. What is the top item on your bucket list right now?
To be honest with you, it’s winning more races at the moment. At this point in my life, getting to a merely competitive place is incredibly important to me. Really, that’s all I have going on.
2. How much NASCAR coverage do you watch in the media?
as little as possible, in fact. You’ll notice different things in relation to rewatching races or certain segments of a race that I thought were crucial to see outside of pre-race preparation.
Beyond that, I honestly don’t think it’s very useful. Reading into a lot of those things doesn’t seem to be helpful in the slightest. I’ve thus made a sincere effort to simply rearrange my priorities and the things that I consider important. I’ve just decided to stop scrolling over the internet for things that are pointless, and I think this has made me a stronger competitor.
3. What is the best way to gauge a racer’s success other than winning?
It’s more important to ask, “How much pace did you have that day? ” rather than worrying so much about the outcome. Did you pose a threat? Would it have made a difference if I hadn’t arrived today? “Did I make any difference on this event, or was I just kind of here?” is a legitimate question. since I wish to change things. I want to feel as though I’m competing and have a chance. For me, that’s what makes it enjoyable and determines whether the day will be good or unpleasant.
4. Regarding NASCAR, what viewpoint do you hold that you believe the fans do not share?
Being on this side of the fence as opposed to watching is difficult because your viewpoints are so dissimilar. It can also affect your perspective to have been on the Cup side for nearly a decade. Many of the people here have strong ideas about various topics, and I’ve discovered that you’re better off keeping some of those opinions to yourself. For the most part, it’s just ineffective.
5. What is the most important aspect of your profession that fans are unaware of?
There’s much more to it than meets the eye. That’s been my struggle over the years, and I’ve had to change to get better at managing my time and setting important things in order of importance. Some of those things become more apparent to you as time goes on. Here, it’s easy to get drawn in a lot of different directions. The more you get drawn in, the more you forget why you’re here in the first place, which is to race, be competitive, strive to improve your craft, and be the best race car driver you can be.
I didn’t choose to follow my dream of driving race cars because I wanted to be on TV or attract a lot of attention. I simply never gave that much thought. “Man, these guys are amazing race car drivers,” was the general consensus. Doing it would be really awesome. I was truly impressed and honored by the skill of whoever I was witnessing. I adore the level of self-control required to be at the top of this garage. That, in my opinion, is the most crucial factor. And if you’re not careful, you may become so stressed out that you forget about that.
Finally, it’s acceptable to decline such requests. Since competitive on-track performance is ultimately what motivates me to do this and keeps me coming back every week, I’ve grown more at ease doing it. So I’m going to be careful to give what really important priority.
6. Since your question relates to a current issue you are involved with, let’s expand on our previous response. Ryan Holiday is one of the writers I follow on Instagram, and he strongly believes in the value of saying no to things in life. Some people find it difficult because they worry about disappointing others or what other people may think. However, it’s crucial to safeguard your own space and time. Therefore, in your opinion, how should people go about taking those actions?
Surrounding oneself with people who genuinely care about you is the most crucial thing. Saying no to something because you believe it would interfere with something more important in your life and annoys the other person makes you question yourself: “Do I truly want that person? Does their approval still matter to me? The folks who truly care about you ought to desire what’s best for you in the end. Furthermore, sometimes acting in someone’s best interests means agreeing with their choices.
Naturally, not every choice will turn out to be the best one. If some people disagree with that, that’s okay too. It is, in my opinion, crucial to have a close-knit support system. Now, what if they tell you that you’re not doing it correctly? Alright, I truly value your viewpoint. However, the only individuals you should truly care about are those you can truly trust and maintain in your tiny circle.
7. This query is a wild card. You were among the first to discuss how the Next Gen car will effect the field, making it closer and tighter. So far, everything you’ve said about what this car will do next has come to pass. Here’s where I am right now: since the field has become tighter, I’m finding it harder to determine who is the best as an observer. What qualities do you look for in a great driver in this day of equality, and how can we tell you guys apart?
Though it’s more difficult to tell now. To your point, if you put a number of the guys in the top 10 in the lead for the final restart, they will be difficult to beat. The individual who was the best that day would sometimes (in the past) find a way back to the lead no matter where you put him.
