There is more drama, NASCAR fans! In a pit road dance-off, Chase Elliott and Kyle Larson’s cars traded paint like they were auditioning for a modern art gallery. After the rumble at the Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway, both teammates say there’s no bad blood between them. Elliott clarified that he and Larson couldn’t care less about the gossip mill. They’re in it for the performance-driven thrill of the race.
During a recent episode of the ‘Dale Jr Download’ podcast, Dale Earnhardt Jr delved into the internal rivalry within Hendrick Motorsports, specifically concerning Chase Elliott and Kyle Larson. Junior alluded to a possible starting point for their tensions, citing a prior incident at Fontana.
Dale Earnhardt Jr Peels Back the Curtain on Hendrick Motorsports’ Rivalry
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Dale Jr. stressed that Chase Elliott shouldn’t feel obligated to elaborate on his interactions with Larson when questioned by the media. According to him, there’s no need for Elliott’s justification about what happened, as it’s apparent to those who observed the incidents.
“I don’t care whatever Chase wants to do. Whatever Chase wants to say. I don’t need Chase [Elliott] to tell me what happened. I don’t need Chase to tell me how he feels. I saw it. He damn sure ain’t gonna be dumb enough to go. Yeah, I hate that guy. And I ran into his a**. I don’t think he needs that in his life, right? He only does that,” the “Pied Piper” of Daytona stated.
Junior added, “I don’t think he wants to create. I don’t think he wants to make the situation worse. They got to go have a competition meeting. They got to all get together and be around each other during the week. It’s **** weird.”
Co-host Mike Davis echoed the same sentiment, emphasizing that as fans had a first-hand account of the happenings, there was no room for over-analyzing. Both Dale and Mike agreed that it would be unwise for Elliott to exacerbate the situation by openly expressing negative sentiments towards Kyle Larson.
Frustration boiled over, but our man Chase, the ever-diplomat, stepped up and added his words.
When Paint-Trading Turned into a NASCAR Showdown for Chase Elliott and Kyle Larson
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The accidental collision between the two came during a four-wide cluster on the pit road, a maneuver largely forced by Brad Keselowski’s quick lane entry. Elliott, never one to avoid a direct confrontation, walked over to Larson’s car after the race.
“There’s a lot that goes on. We obviously ran into each other on pit road, and I didn’t have the full picture of what went on, so I was frustrated. That stuff happens, for sure. But at the end of the day, I’ll take the blame for my frustration.” Chase Elliott said on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
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.@chaseelliott shares his perspective on the late-race pit road incident with @KyleLarsonRacin at @kansasspeedway ⬇️
🗣️ “I didn’t have the full picture of what went on so I was frustrated […] the good news is he and I can have a conversation like adults and it’s a non-issue.” pic.twitter.com/njpkqZzYlB
— SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Ch. 90) (@SiriusXMNASCAR) September 12, 2023
Elliott may not be gunning for the driver’s championship, but his eyes are surely on the owner’s trophy. Larson, well, he’s already punching his ticket to the next round of the playoffs.
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So, will this pit road drama fuel their quest for glory, or will it vanish into thin air like the exhaust fumes after every race?
Watch This Story: Rick Hendrick Painful Confession After Chase Elliott’s Playoff Flop