Chase Elliott Drops 5-Word Verdict Backing NASCAR’s Bowman Gray Efforts

We saw the fruition of NASCAR’s efforts on Sunday. 54 years after the sport’s last race at Bowman Gray, the Madhouse was back in action. Officials renovated the track – laying over fresh paint, installing Musco lights to add more drama, and placing mandatory SAFER barriers. All this was to ensure that this year’s Clash race got a grassroots flavor – and the Cook Out Clash winner, Chase Elliott lauded these efforts.

The 2020 Cup Series champion was a force to reckon with on Sunday’s exhibition event. Chase Elliott led the way for 171 of 200 laps, holding off hard-charging Denny Hamlin and Ryan Blaney. In the end, he received cheers from Bowman Gray’s energetic crowd – and wants to see more of this energy.

Chase Elliott calls for a return

Since 1971, NASCAR had been holding the Clash race as a warm-up event for the following Daytona Speedweeks. For a long time, Daytona International Speedway was the venue for this race, and the hallowed status of the racetrack compared to none. However, in 2022, NASCAR wanted to diversify the schedule to increase its audience reach – and went to the Los Angeles Coliseum. After a three-year stint there, it is at Bowman Gray Stadium – and people already see the difference. The crowd differed from L.A. – fans were more aware of core NASCAR racing.

Appearing in a recent ‘Kevin Harvick’s Happy Hour’ episode, Chase Elliott was candid about his views. He started off by saying he did not want to sound biased just because of his Clash win. “Anytime you win, you’re going to have a biased opinion of how things went. If I take that out of the equation…I thought the environment felt really good, the pre-race atmosphere I thought was incredible.” The 200-lap feature had all the elements to keep fans hooked. Elliott led the first 96 laps before Denny Hamlin became a solid contender. Yet Elliott gave a tough fight to Hamlin and regained his position on lap 126. Then Ryan Blaney’s solid charge from 23rd to runner-up was a jaw-dropping spectacle.

Besides the higher excitement, Chase Elliott also emphasized another difference from the Coliseum. The size of the racetrack is also a factor for him. “I think the Coliseum is a little small after experiencing that last night. And I think Bowman Gray is about as small as I would want to go. But overall it felt really good,” then he dropped his five-word verdict: “A win for the industry.” Clearly, the Hendrick Motorsports star wants a return to the 0.25-mile short track in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

What is more, Bowman Gray also influenced Chase Elliott’s opinions about a rival motorsports series.

Dialing down NASCAR’s glow

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NASCAR’s fanbase in the US is unrivaled – it is the most respected stock car racing series. For 76 years, the sanctioning body has created countless memories, from heartbreaking losses to thrilling last-lap victories. Yet Chase Elliott chooses to believe there other superior forms of motorsport – and the Bowman Gray Stadium experience instilled this thought in him. Supercross is the American indoor version of motocross. Having started in the 1970s, this sport is run on artificial dirt tracks constructed in large arenas. But what describes it best is sheer danger – as racers execute frequent and long jumps on steep uphill and downhill amidst wet or muddy conditions.

Racing at the Madhouse reminded Chase Elliott of this reckless motorsport. It elevated his respect for Bowman Gray, as Elliott believes Supercross is one of the best sports in the world – better than NASCAR, even? He said, “It felt a lot to me like Supercross, when I’ve been to those events. In my opinion, I think Supercross is one of the best motorsports that we have in the world to view just from the standpoint of the athleticism of the riders is on full display, the types of venues that they can get into, and then obviously, the intimacy the crowd can have with the riders and the action.”

Evidently, there are no bounds to Chase Elliott’s praise for the Madhouse. He appreciates the nuances of Supercross riders’ athleticism is a great example of sportsmanship. But, with the positives of the event, let’s hope NASCAR keeps the Clash at Bowman Gray for the next season too.