More than just an opening-season triumph at the Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium event, Chase Elliott‘s victory spoke a thousand words and it was simply impossible to look past. Despite the challenges he faced in 2023, including battling injuries and slipping under the radar amidst the rise of younger stars like Kyle Larson, Christopher Bell, and William Byron, Elliott’s win in the 2024 Bowman Gray Clash sent a loud message to his competitors: he’s back, and he’s just as capable as ever.

Two veterans of NASCAR media spoke on a podcast recently dived deep into the win of Chase Elliot and the implications it holds for NASCAR’s future. Jeff Gluck and Jordan Bianchi recently appeared on Dale Jr.’s Dirty Mo Media to share their views on this historical day.

A strong start with an elite car for Chase Elliott

In the end, Chase Elliott proved that as an exceptional driver, he could handle the pressure and make intelligent decisions on tire management, which would ultimately be the difference-maker. It clearly showcased that Team Penske’s dominance was not a lucky break. It is an outcome of consistent work added with good talent. As Blaney faded into the sunset, it was Elliott’s strategy and consistency that shone bright! But, managing on a short track takes more than just the perfectly powered car.

Talking about the Bowman Gray race, Jeff Gluck highlighted that this was, in part, Elliott’s strong performance, drawing on the strength of the car his team brought to the race. “Just the fact they showed up here with a really great car. They showed up, I mean, really fast,” Gluck said. This was no ordinary start to the season; Chase Elliott and his team made a clear statement that they were ready to take on the challenge of the short-track race.

While Ryan Blaney powered his way through the field, displaying the typical Penske muscle that has dominated these kinds of events, Gluck said there was something special about Elliott’s ability to keep pace and then outlast the competition. “We’re talking a lot about Christopher Bell lately. We’re talking the times of it, but William Byron and guys who were doing these things. Let’s not overlook Chase.” Jordan reiterated.

Tire management is always crucial at short tracks like Bowman Gray, and Gluck appreciated Elliott’s ability to manage his tires throughout the race. Later, it proved to be a decisive advantage in his victory. Blaney’s strategy of pushing hard early helped him move through the field quickly but ultimately cost him in the long run. Elliott, on the other hand, took a more conservative approach, knowing that being able to save tires would be the difference-maker as the race wore on.

Though he undoubtedly had the pace with Ryan Blaney, another veteran who was a challenge for Elliott was Denny Hamlin; he passed him following adjustments made during the halftime break. Yet, Elliott stayed competitive, took back the race, and solidified his position as one of NASCAR’s elite drivers.  As Jeff Gluck and Jordan Bianchi both pointed out, it may not have been flashy in the traditional sense, but an intelligent, hard-earned victory that deserves to be acknowledged for what it represents. After all, it is the long-awaited resurgence for a driver who, when in form, outperforms his competitors.

Kenny Wallace points out Elliott to be NASCAR’s last big hope

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The sport thrives on superstar personalities, people who were far greater than the mere sport itself, like Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt Sr., Jeff Gordon, and Dale Earnhardt Jr. As the icons retired, though, it’s been hard to find relevance for the sport in popular culture. Chase Elliott has been the sport’s most popular driver for seven consecutive years, carrying the legacy of his Hall of Fame father, Bill Elliott.

His reclusive nature and rich tradition with NASCAR have made him the most popular personality among fans. However, veteran driver-turned-commentator Kenny Wallace feels that the sport has lost the type of personalities that it once had and says, “Sadly, Chase Elliott is our last big hope.” According to Wallace, aside from Elliott, NASCAR is now looking for fresh faces that could bring mainstream appeal like past heroes did.

While Elliott has always been the classic good-guy fan favorite, Denny Hamlin has taken on a very different role as NASCAR’s most polarizing figure. Wallace compared the outspoken Hamlin with the legendary Darrell Waltrip. “The only one we got is Denny Hamlin because he p**es everybody off so much that they come back– ‘Oh, I’m gonna answer you.’ ” Perhaps one of the most infamous is the incident that happened in 2023 when he admitted at Phoenix to driving Ross Chastain into the wall on purpose. This saw NASCAR hand out a fine and penalty. Many other drivers clashed with him during races, one such example is Kyle Larson calling him a hypocrite for refusing to take ownership of his driving style.

Elliott and Hamlin play two very distinct yet vital parts in the sport of modern-day NASCAR. Elliott remains the classic hero, and Hamlin is the bad guy, feeding into rivalries and keeping fans on the edge of their seats. Wallace’s observation shows how NASCAR feeds off of these personalities, whether it’s through adoration or controversy. With Elliott being the sport’s most popular driver and Hamlin its most talked-about villain, NASCAR continues to feed off these figures to keep the sport alive and competitive.