After a season full of consistent performances, Chase Elliott is experiencing something of a rough patch. The Hendrick Motorsports star, towards the end of the regular season, didn’t exactly hit the stride he set for himself in the middle of the season.
And now, in the first race of the playoffs at Darlington, Elliott, considered the favorite for lifting the championship in Phoenix, finished last.
It was so because of an unfixable problem in his Chevy Camaro’s rear that he endured after hitting a wall around lap 113. The 2020 Cup champion quickly darted into the pits, but his crew couldn’t fix the problem in the 10-minute window they had.
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Naturally, the driver was frustrated. So frustrated, in fact, that he initially refused to come to the care center, which he eventually did, but nevertheless, not easily.
Elliott’s action, though, however justified through the guise of a natural emotional reaction, was still something that a few NASCAR fans inappropriate and outright wrong as they demanded a penalty or a fine of some sort to punish the #9 driver.
If it is mandatory to care center afyer accident & out. How does he get the choice when to ahow up there without any penalty.
— CPolster (@cin1720) September 5, 2022
Queue the "if this was Kyle Busch…" Tweets
— Ems (@emmavicthomas) September 5, 2022
If Kyle Busch did this, the outrage…
— John Cavanagh (@CavanaghSju) September 5, 2022
He should of went right away he knows the rules. Maybe should start issuing fines if don't go to care center right away.
— Anna Shelburg (@AnnaShelburg) September 5, 2022
What a big baby.🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡
— PepeDaFroggy (@PepeDaFroggy1) September 5, 2022
So any fines or penalties coming from this as it is a REQUIREMENT AND HE REFUSED??
— joseph harter (@nitty30fan30) September 5, 2022
Watch this Story: From Kyle Larson to Denny Hamlin: Chase Elliott’s Most Heated Moments
What did Chase Elliott say after the race?
Despite not wanting to come initially, Chase Elliott did indeed make his way into the care center post, which he also reacted to his race. “Hit the wall there in Turn 2 and broke something in the right rear,” Elliott said after exiting the infield care center.
As for what he would do in the coming races, the #9 driver kept it rather simple.
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“Run better than we did today,” he replied.
Do you think after Darlington, Chase Elliott is still the favorite to win the Cup Series this season or is there now, a new contender for that crown?
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Let us know in the comments below.