“At War With the Nepo Baby Fans Again?”: Hendrick Motorsports Fanbase Divided as Chase Elliott’s Rogue Retaliation Against Kyle Larson Triggers Backlash

Entering his 100th career start at the Kansas Speedway was Hendrick Motorsports star Kyle Larson who had no idea that he would literally run into his teammate. While the 2021 Cup Series champion secured a berth in the round of 12, his not-so-fortunate, teammate Chase Elliott had to go home without a win.

2023 certainly hasn’t been the best year for NASCAR’s golden boy. For the first time in his career, the 2020 Cup Series champion missed the playoffs and the playoff 2nd rounder at Kansas had a brief stint between the teammates in the pit lane with Elliott pushing back the #5 HMS Chevy.

Chase Elliott isn’t happy with Kyle Larson as he expressed his displeasure vividly in Kansas

One made yet another playoff and even secured a place in the 2nd round, while the other missed the playoff 16 for the first time in his career. Despite being in the sport for 8 seasons, this is the first season the 2020 Cup Series champion Chase Elliott failed to make the playoffs. Sadly enough, the frustration was evident in the driver’s performance.

Entering the intermediate track at the 1.5-mile Kansas Speedway, Larson eyed a good finish while the analysts deemed it to be an all-out war between the HMS’s #5 Chevy and the Toyotas. Well, it was an all-out battle with 23XI Racing’s Tyler Reddick clinching his 5th career win.

Now coming to the talk of the town, the race also witnessed the HMS teammates pushing each other. With just 5 laps to go, coming off the pit road, the #5 Chevy of Larson made contact with Elliott’s car, prompting the organization’s golden boy to return the favor as he pushed the Larson off, letting his displeasure be known to his teammate.

On a closer rewatch, Larson is not entirely at fault here. As soon as the #5 Chevy tried to return to the field, veteran Brad Keselowski came out of his pit stall, forcing Larson to sway right to avoid direct contact. While the #5 managed to pass the #6 with a slight contact that moved him up, Larson bumped the #9 Chevy to his right, enraging his teammate Chase Elliott in the process.

This pushed the frustrated driver to let his emotions do the talking as he shoved Larson to let his anger be known, thus triggering another fan war between the drivers as fans wreaked havoc trashing both drivers.

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Rabid fans cause pandemonium as the Elliott-Larson stint splits the fanbase

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While Larson and Elliott were on the chase to claim a win, as predicted, a Toyota picked up the win. Tyler Reddick and his #45 Toyota crossed the finish when the race went into overtime. Chris Buescher who was 12th at that time, lost a tire in lap 261 of the race bringing up a caution.

As drivers scrambled to pit, in an effort to give it one last go, Hendrick Motorsports teammates, Kyle Larson and Chase Elliott found themselves crossing paths. RFK Racing‘s #6 Ford made a slight contact with Larson who was coming off from behind. This forced Larson’s #5 car into a tussle with Elliott’s #9 Chevy.

While Elliott unknowingly reacted to the bump, the driver’s action sparked off a fan war that split the fandom.
“Park him!”
“Cryse Elliott,” “Golden boy isn’t happy his gold value is lowering,” commented Larson fans who brutally trolled Elliott. 

Whereas another fan somehow made a whole new nepotism angle to it, “It’s just a word fans” at war with the nepo baby fans again?? We love to see it”

While Elliott fans argued that the action was necessary, “As he should.”
“Larson constantly runs into him. It’s ridiculous”

READ MORE: Fans Declare War on Each Other Amid Kyle Larson’s Awaited Kansas Achievement