In NASCAR, the tradition carries weight like a stock car tackling the treacherous asphalt of Darlington Raceway’s egg-shaped oval. For a long time, the “Track Too Tough To Tame” has hosted Throwback Weekend, a celebration where modern Cup Series cars transform into vibrant history lessons on wheels, honoring the sport’s storied past. It’s become a fan-favorite tradition at NASCAR’s historic venues.

The 29-year-old Hendrick Motorsports driver made some remarks during a pre-race press conference at Darlington when asked if the annual celebration had lost its luster. Despite participating in the weekend himself—driving a UniFirst Chevrolet throwback to Kenny Schrader’s iconic No. 25 HMS car from the early 1990s—Elliott’s comments struck a nerve within NASCAR’s passionate fanbase.

The track has gained a lot of traction and has been a fan favorite. Yet on April 5, 2025, NASCAR’s seven-time reigning Most Popular Driver, Chase Elliott, set fire to that tradition with a splash of cold water. “I thought it lost it about four or five years ago,” Elliott candidly stated. “I think we’ve rode the horse to death, and we tend to do that a little bit too much.”

The disconnect between Elliott’s status as NASCAR’s Most Popular Driver (MPD) for seven consecutive seasons and his criticism of a beloved fan tradition has exposed a growing rift. While drivers’ critiques of NASCAR decisions are nothing new, targeting a fan-centered celebration has left many questioning their allegiance to Elliott, whose popularity was once thought unassailable following the retirement of Dale Earnhardt Jr.

We did have Kyle Busch, who was quick to shut down this notion with his take. Rowdy has always been perceived as the villain, but he shared a sentiment explaining why the throwback weekend is a big deal. “I feel like the fans really love it, and even if some drivers may think it’s a little overblown or whatever, it’s not for us. It’s for the people in the grandstands.” It’s not just Rowdy; even fans are now speaking out against Elliott’s surprising comments against the Darlington tradition.

Chase Elliott’s Darlington comments ruffled the wrong feathers

“Chase makes being a cup driver seem on par with working in a cubicle. Absolutely zero emotion, always disappointed, doesn’t want to be there,” wrote one fan in response to Chase Elliott’s comments. The irony about Elliott’s comments is that his NAPA Auto Parts throwback scheme celebrating Jimmy Means was voted as the best in 2022 by the fans. But now that he’s made a sharp U-turn on his stance with the throwback tradition, it is tough to see him get back in the good books with the fans.

Other critics targeted Elliott’s own participation in the weekend, with one fan calling his UniFirst scheme “arguably the most pathetic throwback attempt we’ve seen yet.” The criticism highlights a particular irony—Elliott voicing displeasure with a tradition while simultaneously participating with what some perceive as minimal effort. The Schrader-inspired scheme, while historically significant to Hendrick Motorsports, hasn’t resonated strongly with fans who expected the sport’s most popular driver to lead by example with a more creative or personally meaningful throwback.

Perhaps most concerning for Elliott’s long-term popularity is the growing comparison to other drivers with more expressive personalities. “Man I just don’t really find chase that likable at all compared to blaney, bubba, and even hocevar (personality wise).” Important to note that Elliott hasn’t featured in the Netflix docu-series, Full-Speed. Meanwhile, his teammate Kyle Larson will have a solo documentary by Prime Video on his Double Attempt. Perhaps it is time that NASCAR fans choose a better popular driver.

Yet some fans came to Chase Elliott’s defence, pointing to a broader issue within the garage. As one supporter noted: “Cup teams are just not interested in throwing back now. No Spire, half of JGR, RFK, RCR, 23XI, Trackhouse, off the top of my head, it just doesn’t feel the same.” This observation carries weight, as participation has indeed declined from the early years when nearly every car sported a throwback scheme. The 2025 Throwback Weekend sees notably fewer participating teams than in previous years, lending some credibility to Elliott’s assessment, even if fans didn’t appreciate his blunt delivery.

It’s not an obligation for either the teams or the drivers to sign up for the throwback weekend. It works for those who want to celebrate the glory days of the sport along with the fans, while some choose not to participate in this tradition. But as long as fans are connected with this tradition and celebrate it during the race weekends, teams will continue to roll out flashy paint schemes.