Chase Elliott has made a name for himself as the good guy in NASCAR. The 2020 Cup Series Champion likes to drive clean and is often known for being morally right. So when he watched the Truck Series race that Christian Eckes won, he had a few things to say about how the driver got into the Championship 4 in his respective series.

The Martinsville Controversy surrounding Christian Eckes at the Zip Buy Now, Pay Later 200 turned into a real spectacle at the famed short track. On November 1, 2024, Eckes found himself in the spotlight—but not exactly for reasons he might have hoped.

Chase Elliott’s take on Christian Eckes Martinsville’s victory

In the final laps, Eckes aggressively blocked Taylor Gray, who needed a win to make it to the Championship 4, pushing him up the track and disrupting his momentum. Then, in a heated battle with Ben Rhodes, who had fresher tires, Eckes used similarly bold tactics to hold his ground, ultimately taking the victory. After the race, a frustrated Gray confronted Eckes in victory lane, and Rhodes criticized his moves as reckless and unsportsmanlike. Eckes defended his actions as unintentional, but the incident has sparked debates about the boundaries of competitive racing and left Gray and Rhodes out of the championship picture.

Chase Elliott, known for his clean driving and strong moral compass in NASCAR, didn’t hold back when discussing Christian Eckes’ controversial victory at the Truck Series race. After witnessing the chaotic finish, he shared his thoughts with Davey Center, expressing disappointment but not surprise.

“I don’t love it,” he said, acknowledging the situation. “But it’s become very much normal. Odds are if you’re not the one taking advantage of things, you’re probably going to get taken advantage of.” While Chase Elliott’s reputation as a generally calm driver is well-established, across the 2024 season, drivers found a new side to him. The Homestead Miami race was enough evidence, as Kevin Harvick went on to elaborate. Elliott’s perspective on the Eckes incident may be a reflection of how he sees racing in the Cup Series, and the aggression he’s bringing to his style of racing.

Despite this, Chase Elliott doesn’t like how hands-off NASCAR is when making strict decisions and aggressive driving. However, being the kind of sport it is, NASCAR has always been known for drivers doing almost anything they can for the win, even if it means wrecking opponents at the cost of their safety.

The Breakdown of the Craftsman Truck Series Race

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Christian Eckes didn’t hold back during the Zip Buy Now, Pay Later 200 at Martinsville Speedway. With just five laps left in the race, Eckes made some aggressive moves to ensure that he won, no matter the cost. He went ahead in using the front bumper of his No. 19 Chevrolet to nudge both Taylor Gray and Ben Rhodes out of his way. This strategy paid off as he crossed the finish line ahead of Rhodes, earning him a spot in the Championship 4 for the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series. Despite leading for most of the race and displaying a convincing performance throughout, his methods raised eyebrows, especially from his competitors.

After the checkered flag waved, the drama didn’t stop. A visibly frustrated Taylor Gray confronted Eckes in victory lane, feeling wronged after Eckes had pushed him into the wall. Gray remarked, “I got sent to the fence when I raced him perfectly clean,” indicating that he believed he had raced Eckes fairly, only to be met with aggression.

The tension highlighted the stakes of the playoffs, with Gray’s loss meaning he would not advance to the Championship 4, a spot claimed by Ty Majeski instead. Eckes, unfazed by the boos from the crowd, defended his actions, stating, “Like I told everybody, I wasn’t going to lose this race—this truck was too good.” With Eckes in Championship 4, the Truck Series now has all the finalists ready to go head-to-head for the title. Who do you think will win the Truck Series finals among Grant Enfinger, Christian Eckes, Ty Majeski, and Corey Heim? Let us know your answer in the comments below.