The excitement is at an all-time high. Why would it not be? The new NASCAR season is on the horizon, bringing with it all the action, drama, and controversy once again. Fans and drivers have 36 races in the Cup Series to look forward to, some more so than others based on individual preferences. All eyes will be on Chase Elliott and Bubba Wallace in the upcoming campaign, particularly after the 23XI driver won the Duel 1 at Daytona while the HMS star triumphed in the pre-season exhibition race at Bowman Gray Stadium.

The two NASCAR heavyweights recently engaged in a spirited discussion, debating their ideal revamped schedule and revealing their track preferences. Engaging in banter, both the racers went on to highlight their unique preferences in the Cup Series calendar.

Bubba Wallace’s pick leaves Elliott unimpressed

The discussion began with Bubba Wallace calling for the removal of the Charlotte Roval, the 2.28-mile road course from the Cup Series calendar. Even though it’s a venue where the 23XI Racing driver has fared reasonably well, having finished ninth at the 2024 Bank of America Roval 400, the racer prefers the venue’s traditional oval layout. Wallace went on to say, “Okay, I got mine. Remove the Roval and add Charlotte back. The oval.”

Wallace’s choice left Chase Elliott scratching his head, and the Hendrick Motorsports driver couldn’t help but say, “Are you serious? That’s as good as you could do?” When asked if he liked the Roval, the No. 9 Chevy driver deflected the question momentarily and said, “I’m just saying of all we had, we had options that were..” before going on to admit, “But yeah, I like the Roval” while hinting that better options might be available.

When pressed to share his answer, the Georgia native jokingly said, “I know of a real good one but that’s gonna be my answer but I don’t want you stealing it” before revealing, “I would say we take away Texas, I’m not a Texas fan. Just go ahead and get rid of it. Slayed that dragon, let’s go on down the road.” Funnily enough, Chase Elliott’s last Cup Series win came at Texas Motor Speedway in 2024, which was also his only triumph last year. The answer seems to be a surprising one, especially considering the racer’s success at the ‘Great American Speedway’, which earned him a playoff spot.

Bubba Wallace’s dislike of road courses isn’t surprising, considering his track record. The 23XI Racing driver averages a 23.1 finish on road courses, one of his worst amongst all track types. However, he did admit in his conversation with Elliott that, “I run pretty good there. That’s my fastest road course, but I miss the oval.” Out of Wallace’s three top-10 road course finishes, two have come at the ROVAL, with a 7th place in 2022 and 9th place in 2024.

While the conversation was a lighthearted one between the two drivers, it’s not beyond the realm of possibility that NASCAR could take their suggestions seriously and consider changing the Cup Series schedule. Despite Bubba Wallace’s performances at the Charlotte Roval, his preference for the oval layout indicated that he wants fewer road courses on the calendar, while Chase Elliott was honest enough to admit he didn’t enjoy an iconic track, despite his only Cup Series success in 2024 coming in Texas.

Chase Elliott reveals his concert pick for the Daytona 500

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It’s fair to say that Chase Elliott enjoys country music. The Georgia native recently revealed his ideal choice for the Daytona 500 pre-race concert in a conversation with Bubba Wallace. ‘The Great American Race’ is arguably the most prestigious event in the Cup Series calendar, so it should come as no surprise that the Hendrick Motorsports driver will only consider a top-tier artist for the occasion, who will not only resonate with the NASCAR audience but also raise the roof at Daytona International Speedway.

Revealing his pick, Elliott said, “I’m a big Eric Church guy, he’d be a great one for that.” The choice seemed to be one that Bubba Wallace agreed on as well, as he went on to say, “He’s A-list, there we go”. Elliott brought up another country music artist, who has performed at a NASCAR race in recent years, and asked his 23XI Racing rival, “Luke Combs did it not long ago, didn’t he? I mean, is he not A-list?” Wallace backtracked in response, clarifying that the three-time Grammy Award nominee was indeed a top artist.

Chase Elliott and Bubba Wallace make quite a pair, don’t they? While the two rarely agree to anything, they do have a rapport that comes naturally off the track. However, with the Daytona 500 on the horizon, their rivalry is all set to be reignited once again and the stakes will be higher than ever. Could fans potentially see the duo compete for the same team one day? While unlikely, it’s not beyond the realm of possibility. Stranger things have happened in NASCAR over the years.