Published 02/06/2023, 9:43 AM EST
It seems the 2023 season for Chase Elliott has started in frustration. This much was evident by his antics during the Clash when he confronted Ricky Stenhouse Jr as well as his radio message to his crew chief Alan Gustafson.
During the qualifying for the first race of the season in the LA Coliseum, Elliott was bumped out by Stenhouse Jr, which meant the #9 driver ended in the LCQ while Kevin Harvick finished ahead of them both and booked his ticket in the 150-lap main event.
After this, Elliott’s crew chief asked him on the radio, “What do you need with your car?”
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To this, the #9 driver replied, “I don’t know, to run over people I guess.” After this, the Hendrick Motorsports driver got out of his car, and walked up to Stenhouse to have a word with him.
Fans call out Elliott’s antics with Stenhouse Jr
All of this, the radio message, and Elliott confronting the #47 driver incited a lot of reactions from the NASCAR fans against the Dawsonville native. Many called him out for being ‘a cry baby’ and for the way he handled it all.
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Chase Elliott isn’t thrilled with the racing product in the Clash
In a recent interview with Rubbin Is Racing, Elliott candidly described his thoughts and opinion on the much-controversial Chicago race, saying, “Don’t get me wrong, I think that event in Chicago is going to be a great event.
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“Is it going to be the most fun thing to drive on from a driver’s perspective? No, probably not. Just like the Coliseum isn’t the most exhilarating thing I’ve ever done behind the wheel of a racecar.
BRISTOL, TN – SEPTEMBER 16: Chase Elliott (#9 Hendrick Motorsports Hooter’s Chevrolet) watches on track action during qualifying for the NASCAR Cup Series Playoff Bass Pro Shops NRA Night race on September 16, 2022 at Bristol Motor Speedway in Bristol, TN. (Photo by Jeff Robinson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Having said that, Elliott admitted that “these things”, such as the race in the Coliseum, need to be recognized for “what they are”, and what NASCAR is trying to accomplish from them.
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“I look at those things as events more so than I do the greatest stock car race,” Elliott concluded.