USA Today via Reuters
May 2, 2022; Dover, Delaware, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Chase Elliott (9) crosses the finish line to win the DuraMAX Drydene 400 at Dover Motor Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Matthew OHaren-USA TODAY Sports
USA Today via Reuters
May 2, 2022; Dover, Delaware, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Chase Elliott (9) crosses the finish line to win the DuraMAX Drydene 400 at Dover Motor Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Matthew OHaren-USA TODAY Sports
At the Dover International Speedway, Chase Elliott finally reached Victory Lane. However, some eagle-eyed fans noticed a few odd things about his car. To be precise, there was a piece of tape sticking to the front grille of the #9 Chevrolet car. Normally, this would have prompted an investigation and a black flag. However, the 2020 Cup Series champion managed to get off scot-free.
I know there have been questions about this piece of tape on Elliott grille. Checked in with someone from a non-Chevy organization and was told it looks like a piece of tape that came off the track (not placed by team) and if anything, it would make performance worse, not better. pic.twitter.com/9q8E4aB8xg
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) May 2, 2022
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Admittedly, this did not sit well with a few fans, especially since Kyle Busch got into trouble a few races ago. Busch also had a piece of tape sticking to his front grille and got a black flag for it. So, it baffled many that Elliott managed to escape even a reprimand for it. Some would suggest that NASCAR was being partial to Hendrick Motorsports, but Fox Sports journalist Bob Pockrass issued a clarification.
What did he say about Chase Elliott and Hendrick Motorsports at Dover
As it turned out, Pockrass spoke to a non-Chevrolet employee on the matter. Obviously, he wanted to eliminate the element of bias to his investigation. According to the employee, the tape probably came while Elliott was on the track.
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In other words, the team did not put it there, unlike what happened with Kyle Busch. Also, the tape’s presence would have only hindered the car’s performance on the race track. In the end, the #9 driver went on to take his first Cup win of the season.
USA Today via Reuters
May 2, 2022; Dover, Delaware, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Chase Elliott celebrates with the checkered flag after winning the DuraMAX Drydene 400 at Dover Motor Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Matthew OHaren-USA TODAY Sports
However, many fans were not convinced and groused that Hendrick Motorsports followed different rules. In Kyle’s case, he had every reason to be hopping mad, because the tape was left on the car early in the race. Unfortunately for him, nobody noticed it until the closing laps of the race. This was just as he was in a position to try and challenge for the race win. The forced pitstop dropped him well down the order and left him with very little time to mount a comeback.
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