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NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – JULY 17: (R-L) Chase Elliott #94 talks with Ray Evernham on the grid during practice prior to the Camping World Superstar Racing Experience event at Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway on July 17, 2021 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Dylan Buell/SRX via Getty Images)
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NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – JULY 17: (R-L) Chase Elliott #94 talks with Ray Evernham on the grid during practice prior to the Camping World Superstar Racing Experience event at Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway on July 17, 2021 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Dylan Buell/SRX via Getty Images)
A couple of days ago, the NASCAR pre-season testing was underway at the Charlotte Motor Speedway. During the test, Chase Elliott was running on the track when he suddenly spun. As he entered the corner, his #9 Chevrolet’s rear end stepped out and he did his best to save the car.
Luckily, he did well to avoid hitting the wall and ended up going on the grass. In the end, there was no major damage done, and the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series champion was able to continue onwards. The incident took place at Turn four, a place that had caught out a fair number of drivers.
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Many fans blamed the single lug nut wheels for the spate of spins. Clearly, not many fans liked the new changes to the Next Gen cars and wanted the five lug nuts back. Of course, the drivers will have to try to get used to the new changes, which is what the pre-season tests are for.
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Chase Elliott will be seeking redemption
The #9 Hendrick Motorsports driver was unable to defend his 2020 Cup Series crown. Instead, the 2021 championship went to his new teammate, Kyle Larson. Now, the ‘People’s Champion’ will be keen to return the favor to his teammate in 2022. Of course, Kyle Larson is not an easy opponent to dispose of, and Elliott will also be wary of his other two teammates.
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INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – AUGUST 15: Chase Elliott, driver of the #9 Hooters Chevrolet, waits on the grid prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Verizon 200 at the Brickyard at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on August 15, 2021 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
Additionally, there are also teams like Joe Gibbs Racing, Team Penske, and Stewart-Haas Racing waiting to pounce. In other words, the Hendrick Motorsports quartet can squabble among themselves; however, they will have to be careful to not hinder each other, else their rivals will take advantage.
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It is also worth mentioning that the introduction of the Next Gen cars brings everyone back to square one. This is why the Charlotte test and the subsequent tests are so important. All teams need to figure out what makes these new cars tick so that they can get off the blocks first.
READ MORE: Hendrick Motorsports Reference Chase Elliott’s Infamous Dig at Kevin Harvick in Christmas Post
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