Published 12/31/2022, 5:35 AM EST
For an outsider, NASCAR is either a turning left simulator or a place where massive wrecks take place. However, the turning left theory is just a stereotype and there is a lot of real talent involved. But the point about massive crashes isn’t something a NASCAR fan gets to witness with every single race. But when they do, it sure piques an interest amongst certain fans.
ADVERTISEMENT Article continues below this ad
About two years ago, Chase Elliott sat down for an interview where he was asked if his earlier crashes with Denny Hamlin (as an example) were a good thing for NASCAR. The Hendrick Motorsport driver responded with his take on how moments like these are adored by the fans since it’s not a regular occurrence.
Elliott said, “It gets people talking about it for sure. People enjoy controversy and people enjoy seeing, you know, seeing that fire, you know, the intensity that I think sometimes it’s hard to see the intensity that we carry as drivers because we’re, you know, inside the car with their helmets on… I think that people enjoy the controversy and getting out of cars and people, you know, showing the fire and the passion.”
ADVERTISEMENT Article continues below this ad
“And yeah. I mean, that stuff isn’t fake and I think that’s why people enjoyed the most. And it doesn’t happen every weekend. That’s also, I think another reason why, you know, people find entertainment in it when it does. Because it’s not a not every week thing.”
What happened between Chase Elliott and Denny Hamlin in the past?
ADVERTISEMENT Article continues below this ad
One of the controversial moments between the two arch-rivals came at the 2017 Martinsville race. This was when Joe Gibbs Racing’s Denny Hamlin decided to push the rear end of Elliott’s car, moving him out of the way and into the wall. Soon Elliott’s car spun out and was out of the lead of the race.
TALLADEGA, AL – OCTOBER 02: Chase Elliott (#9 Hendrick Motorsports NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet) during driver introductions before the running of the NASCAR Cup Series Playoff YellaWood 500 on October 02, 2022, at Talladega Superspeedway in Talladega, AL (Photo by Jeff Robinson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
The Hendrick Motorsport driver was understandably outraged by the incident. Afterward, he was seen climbing out of his car to have a word with Denny Hamlin face-to-face about what went down. The pair were seen arguing with each other with Elliott being in pure disbelief over the incident.
ADVERTISEMENT Article continues below this ad
Watch This Story: Perennial Fan-Favorites Dale Earnhardt Jr and Chase Elliott Have This NASCAR Legend to Thank for Their Superstardom
Later on after the race, one stray Chase Elliott fan even walked up to Denny Hamlin in a quest to fight him head-on. But thankfully he was stopped by the pit crew and the security in time. Many even believed that Hamlin purposefully robbed Elliott of a win. Even to date, the pair continue to be on opposing factions, occasionally passing a comment or two each other’s way.