Last fall at Talladega, let’s just say Chase Elliott had a nightmare. In a playoff race that could have strengthened his championship hopes, Elliott instead found himself caught in a historic disaster, and boy, was it a big one. The largest wreck in Talladega’s long history unfolded before his eyes, with 28 cars tangled in a chaotic mess. Elliott was among the many drivers stuck helplessly in the grass, unable to move, while confusion ruled the track.

On the team radio, spotter Trey Poole asked, “Is everybody just sitting back there in their car waiting to get moved?” Elliott’s frustrated reply told the whole story: “Yeah. Everybody’s just spinning their wheels, turning in circles, and can’t go anywhere. Stuck in the grass. Stuck on the asphalt.” Later, when asked about the wreck, Elliott didn’t hold back. He joked, “We looked like a bunch of clowns. It was epic. There were 10 of us sitting there in the grass, all arguing, pleading our case, yelling, and screaming. Just silly.”

That crash wasn’t just another ‘Dega moment. It changed Elliott’s playoff path and opened his eyes to deeper problems. Now, as NASCAR returns to Talladega for the first time in 2025, Elliott is speaking out, and he’s making it clear: disaster engineering is the real culprit behind the deadly wrecks, and NASCAR needs to wake up.

Talladega Superspeedway has always been a mixed bag for Chase Elliott. Statistically, it’s one of his best tracks. He has driven the No. 9 Chevrolet to Victory Lane twice there, matching his success at the Charlotte Roval, Dover, and Watkins Glen. His wins here prove he knows how to master the 2.66-mile beast. But the wrecks? They’ve left scars. Going into this weekend’s race, Elliott is hoping for a third win, but he’s also carrying serious safety concerns.

His comments were sharp but thoughtful. “I’m sure there are always improvements that we can make. I’m certainly not an expert… but the big flat piece that’s bolted to the bottom of the car, when it sees wind, it acts like a flat sheet. That’s tough to navigate,” he said. He admitted he doesn’t have all the answers, but he made one thing very clear: NASCAR has had plenty of time to address these issues. “Hopefully it’s always looking for improvements,” he added.

Elliott’s warning is rooted in hard facts. Blow-over flips have become a terrifying trend. Ryan Preece flipped at Daytona earlier this year — again. Josh Berry flipped violently at the Coke Zero Sugar 400. Last fall, 28 cars were destroyed in one moment at Talladega. It’s not just bad luck; it’s a pattern. Other drivers are just as frustrated. Kyle Busch has openly slammed NASCAR’s slow response to safety concerns.

Ahead of the Jack Link’s 500, Busch said, “It’s really hard to get runs or any sort of separation, especially with the fuel savings and all that sort of stuff. Shorter time on pit road is how you pass guys. Like, that’s no fun. So, there’s definitely an issue in that,” He also admitted he’s made suggestions to NASCAR, only to be ignored. “I’ve made my suggestions—in one ear, out the other,” he said.

Brad Keselowski, a superspeedway ace himself, revealed that NASCAR tried new safety features during a Michigan test. “The options, unfortunately, didn’t pan out that NASCAR had worked to develop, so it wasn’t a surprise that there weren’t any changes. I knew there was effort being put into it and, candidly, not everything you try is gonna work, but I appreciate that there was effort put into it and I think there’s very much a back to the drawing board mentality. I don’t feel like it’s not being worked on, but we’re not gonna skip the race just because we haven’t figured something out, so the show goes on.”

That’s the biggest problem. NASCAR has no new safety changes for this weekend’s race. NASCAR plans updates for Daytona later this summer, including a new flap on the Next Gen car to help keep cars grounded during spins. For now, however, Talladega remains business as usual. The same risks persist, and the drivers are well aware of them.

As Elliott and the field prepare for battle, the stakes couldn’t be higher. Another wreck could crush playoff dreams, endanger careers, or worse. NASCAR’s decision to delay changes has left many wondering if the sport’s leaders are truly listening to their stars. Still, despite the chaos swirling around him, Chase Elliott remains focused and loyal to his inner circle, including his longtime crew chief Alan Gustafson.

Elliott backs his partner amid rumors!

In the middle of all the drama about safety, Chase Elliott is also dealing with noise about his crew chief. Some fans have questioned Alan Gustafson’s leadership after a rocky start to the season. With rising star Adam Wall gaining attention at Hendrick Motorsports, rumors have flown that Gustafson could be replaced. But Elliott has made his feelings very clear. He’s standing by Gustafson without hesitation.

“Look, he’s a pro. I love Alan. I think he is so good at what he does, and I believe in him,” Elliott said when asked about the criticism. Elliott emphasized that their relationship has been key to their success. Gustafson helped guide him to a Cup Series championship in 2020. “At the end of the day, that’s really all that matters, is kind of how I look at it. We have a good relationship, and we both helped each other grow quite a lot in the course of our time together, coming up to ten years. We just enjoy going to battle each week,” Elliott explained.

The Hendrick Motorsports driver knows that in racing, loyalty matters. As he tackles the rough road ahead at Talladega and fights for another championship run, he’s making it clear: he trusts his team, he believes in his crew chief, and he’s ready for whatever comes next. As Talladega looms, he knows one thing for sure: he’s ready to fight with the team he believes in. And maybe, just maybe, avoid another disaster along the way.