NASCAR’s 2023 iteration of the Cup season has been nothing but a rough sail for Hendrick Motorsports and Chase Elliott fans. While 2 of its 4 drivers made the round of 16 with Kyle Larson making the fans proud with a stellar opening race win to the playoffs, their teammates are still searching for their first win of the season in the dark. Unlike the playoff outcast, Larson and William Byron are having a dream ride as the Cup Series action reaches Bristol for its third post-regular season race. Amid all this, the moment that arose as insult to injury for chase Elliot was his ugly tussle with Larson at Kansas. And now, there is more development in the case.

While both the drivers have made it clear that last week’s incident is water under the bridge, the 2021 Cup Series champion threw a subtle jab at the dejected driver ahead of his Bristol run, mocking his incomprehensible personality.

Kyle Larson pokes Chase Elliott despite clearing the rumors

Although Chase Elliott is still in the hunt for an owner’s championship, the 2020 Cup Series champion for the first time his in career missed the playoffs. The HMS star was inches close to a win on several occasions, including the coveted Indianapolis race last month, but just couldn’t finish it off.

On the other hand, his teammate Kyle Larson has his HMS Chevy in cruise control. The #5 driver secured a spot in the round of 12 after conquering Southern 500 for the very first time. However, the teammates are not over the ugly Kansas incident when Elliott furiously retaliated to the #5 driver’s unknowing bump in the pit road.

Soon after, all hell broke loose with fan speculations and jealousy theories popping up in NASCAR nation. Some even deemed Elliott was jealous of his successful teammate and that prompted him to give one back to Larson at Kansas. With the race replay showing the whole incident, Elliott admitted his mistake of bumping his teammate, and the whole debacle subsided.

When asked if they addressed the issue, Larson said, “We just talked after the race, all was fine, I wasn’t too worked up in the car you know I  knew he was upset because I knew what I felt like once he saw the replay it would you know paint the picture so yeah, we’re fine.” 

Even though both the drivers cleared the air on the incident, denying any rumors of a possible feud, Larson threw in a cheeky jab during his pre-race interview.

Mocking Elliott’s reserved nature and his mysterious personality, he said, “Well I can’t say any of us know his personality but I doubt that, he’s super successful and I mean he’s got a championship and you know he has won tons of races so I don’t feel that way you know I spent a little more time around him than all you guys I don’t ever feel that way.” 

WATCH THIS STORY: “I hate the racing” – Kyle Larson goes on a ballistic rant against NASCAR, supporting wife’s condemnation 

Former crew chief and NASCAR pundit slams Chase Elliott

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While the Cup Series events are delivering what the fans want the most – drama – last week’s race in Kansas exposed the mysterious Chase Elliott. With the pit road tussle making the headlines the following week, fans scrambled for more updates, scrounging every nook and corner for more dramatic news.

For the unversed, the incident involved Larson and Elliott, who were going side by side in the pit road when the #6 of Brad Keselowski decided to move out of his pit box. Seeing the #6 Ford diverging, Larson in an effort to avoid contact swerved right, bumping into Elliott, who was unaware of this the whole situation.

However, the post-race interview exposed Elliott’s mysterious side when he put on a long face. When asked by Fox’s Bob Pockrass about what he said to Larson after the race, Elliott minced his words, simply shrugging it all off with a simple, “no.” Larry McReynolds, former NASCAR crew chief, offered the driver a piece of advice.

“I am always hesitant about saying how a driver should react inside the race car because I have never been buckled in that race car now. Did I let my emotions get carried away up on that pit box? Chase has gotta learn to control his emotions, which is one of the reasons that he’s in the position right now and he’s not part of the playoffs,” said the 64-year-old.

While Larson dismissed the whole fiasco as a simple misunderstanding, blaming it on the media for stirring up unwanted controversy, the short-track race at Bristol is certain to be a hell-raiser with more than enough drama.