What happens when one of NASCAR’s biggest stars gets hit with a question every fan wonders about, but no one wants to ask out loud? What happens when the driver is hit with the urgency of using a washroom? Well, an untimely nature call can certainly throw a driver off his plans to race on that day. But, Tony Stewart is one of the few who defied the odds despite a stomach ache and cramps; he braved the race at Watkins Glen and took his race car to victory lane.

NASCAR fans famously call it the “Poop race,” and it only goes to show how tough of a job it is to be a race car driver. Now it is hard to know for certain if drivers wear diapers or undergo special training to control the urge or delay it if there’s a worst-case scenario like Smoke. Well, as it turns out, NASCAR’s most popular driver, Chase Elliott, was asked the age-old question. And his response, although backed by science and logic, left the MLB broadcasters in stitches.

Chase Elliott’s Hilarious Take on NASCAR’s Toughest Question

Chase Elliott most likely anticipated discussing rivals, racing, and possibly even postseason aspirations when he appeared on the MLB Network. Rather, the 2020 Cup Series champion was forced to respond to the classic riddle that every inquisitive sports fan has at some point wondered about: What happens if you have to use the restroom during a race?

Following Elliott’s brutally honest response, the MLB panel burst out laughing, igniting a moment of amusement that filled up the set. Although his reaction was full of good humor and sharp wit, it also revealed the harsh, sweaty world of stock car racing and how difficult it is to endure long hours behind the wheel without a break. Elliott jumped straight into the question, keeping his tone lighthearted, “The bathroom question is extremely popular. The good news for us is that the environment inside the car is hot. So we sweat a lot. Thank goodness, because otherwise we would certainly have a problem. It kind of offsets—or at least you hope it does.”

The broadcasters were taken aback by how realistic and vivid his explanation was, and they immediately burst out laughing. In response, one of the hosts said, “The sweat upsets the pee?” Elliott went on to elaborate. “If you are outside, sweating and not drinking water, then you’re good. You are gonna last way longer that way. But it’s not the end-all—you do have to be careful. So that is a thought process for sure,” he said.

That straightforward, amusing conversation led to something more profound: an unvarnished glimpse of what it truly takes to endure the stress and heat of a NASCAR cockpit. Elliott’s explanation brought to light the layers of endurance that fans never take into account, even though most people conceive of racing car drivers as athletes behind the wheel. First of all, even experienced athletes would wilt due to the combination of elevated heart rates and unpleasant temperatures. He wasn’t being dramatic. Sweating alone can cause drivers to lose up to 10 pounds of water weight during a normal Cup Series race. Car temperatures can rise above 120 degrees Fahrenheit, so staying hydrated is important, but requires careful consideration.

“A lot of times people ask, How do you train? How do you prepare? And it’s always a difficult thing to explain because there aren’t a lot of other activities that you do where you don’t necessarily have a physical movement, but your heart rate is extremely high, and the environment is also extremely hot. A lot of what we do is heart rate control, truthfully, and just being comfortable in the environment. A lot of it is mental, I feel like, as well. You can be out there and you’re sweating—you just have to tell yourself you’re cold because it can get pretty toasty in there,” he added.

The MLB Network team became more and more surprised—and amused—as Elliott explained the mental and physical acrobatics required to succeed under such pressure. For baseball fans who prefer a slower tempo, there’s something about seeing a superstar like Elliott sitting in a cockpit, sweating and acting cold. Thankfully, the drivers have the cooling suits on when they travel to desert regions or a hot racetrack. But a malfunction in the cool suit is another headache that can lead to more issues for the drivers and their overall performance.

Meanwhile, Chase Elliott also shared his take on NASCAR’s new rule book tweak – the promoter’s caution.

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Elliott doesn’t mind contributing to NASCAR’s entertainment fix

Stage racing in general isn’t appreciated by the race fan. It is seen as a gimmick or a manufactured element to add more drama to races. Despite the backlash, the governing body is now adding another provision to their rule book to amp up the racing entertainment factor during the All-Star race.  Along with a competition caution on lap 100, the race at North Wilkesboro will now have a promoter’s caution after Lap 200. This will only come into use if there are no natural caution flags or stoppages in the race.

Although there’s a lot of discussion around this change, with many calling it another gimmick, Elliott didn’t mind it. “Yeah, I mean, I’m not opposed to it. I think that there’s been some questionable cautions thrown in the course of the history of the sport in general. So I’d just as soon know that that’s coming and that’s the plan beforehand that they have one that they’re gonna throw that they’ve announced is gonna be for entertainment purposes.” He said this on SiriusXM NASCAR channel.

It has been 36 races since the HMS driver won a Cup Series race last year. With Talladega up ahead, the driver of the No. 9 Chevy will look to put a solid points run on the day or possibly aim for the win. Interestingly, Elliott’s last superspeedway win came at Dega, so keep an eye out for him this weekend.