Chase Elliott, the Georgia native and prominent NASCAR driver, drew a notable parallel between the frustrations experienced on public highways and those on the NASCAR racetrack. He highlighted in a 2019 interview with The Athletic that expressing anger through gestures is simpler on the road because you rarely encounter the same driver again, unlike in NASCAR where drivers meet repeatedly on the track.
Elliott has been involved in various on-track incidents, including a recent exchange during the Chicago Street Race where he doored Katherine Legge exiting turn 5, leading to her retaliatory bump. His reflections on the differences between road rage and racetrack tensions came during the same discussion with Jeff Gluck, emphasizing the ongoing interactions drivers face in competitive racing.
“It’s probably very similar. The only difference is you’re never going to see that person (on the road) ever again. On the track, you’re going to see them again. Soon, probably. That makes it easier to flip somebody off on the road if you wanted to, then. You’re never going to see them again, so you can do whatever you want,” he said.
—Chase Elliott, NASCAR Driver
In the Grant Park 165 at Chicago, Elliott finished 16th, placing three positions ahead of Katherine Legge. This result ultimately led to his elimination in Round 2 of the In-Season Challenge after finishing just behind John Hunter Nemechek, who secured 15th place.
Elliott Expresses Preference for Traditional Oval Racetracks Over Street Courses
Before the Chicago Street Race, Elliott spoke favorably about NASCAR’s classic oval tracks, such as Nashville Superspeedway. He acknowledged that while street races in city environments are exciting additions to the schedule, they remain secondary to the authentic racing experience delivered by traditional short tracks, which he considers intrinsic to NASCAR’s identity.
“The biggest reason I’m such a big advocate of Nashville is because, to me, oval track racing is kind of our bread and butter, right? So we have that there. This is a great second choice to get to a city, but there’s nothing that’s going to top giving people true short track. What is NASCAR? Here it is. Take an Uber from Broadway to the racetrack and go watch,” he said via Cup Scene.
—Chase Elliott, NASCAR Driver
Following his recent victory at Atlanta, Elliott has earned ten top-10 finishes this season, placing him second in the driver standings. He trails his teammate and current points leader William Byron by 13 points as the season progresses.
Looking Ahead to Sonoma Raceway and Upcoming Challenges
Elliott is preparing for the upcoming race at Sonoma Raceway, a road course where his performance has been consistently strong, boasting an average finish of 5.7 since the introduction of the Next Gen Era. His track record there includes leading laps in every race at Sonoma during this period, which underscores his potential to perform well in the event scheduled for Sunday, July 13.
The 110-lap race will be broadcast live on TNT Sports, starting at 3:30 PM ET, offering fans another opportunity to witness Elliott’s skill against a competitive field.