Chase Elliott is once again in the NASCAR playoffs after missing out in 2023. Currently, he is 24 points above the cut-line with only two races remaining in the Round of 16. As mid-September approaches, there are nine races left in the 2024 NASCAR season. However, if Elliott had his way, there would be fewer races, or perhaps none at all.
The 2020 NASCAR Cup Series champion joined Jeff Gluck and Jordan Bianchi of The Athletic on their podcast, “The Teardown,” where he was asked what NASCAR could learn from college football. Elliott pointed out that the sport could benefit from adjusting the length of the season, though he wasn’t referring to the number of races.
“I think they do a lot of things right,” Elliott commented. “We’ve talked about this before, but the first thing that comes to mind is the length of the season. And by that, I don’t mean the number of races, but how much of the calendar year gets used up in the process.”
Elliott admires college football for its relatively short season. He noted that when college football returns, fans are eager and excited after waiting all year for its comeback. In his view, NASCAR could benefit from a similar dynamic—where fans would genuinely miss the sport during its off-season and be enthusiastic when it returned.
Elliott has long advocated for shortening the NASCAR season. He has also expressed frustration with NASCAR going head-to-head with the NFL when their season begins in early September. While it is unlikely that NASCAR will reduce the number of races on its calendar, Elliott continues to push for a longer off-season and a more condensed schedule.
Listen to Chase Elliott’s Angry Radio Exchanges at the 2024 Brickyard 400
In the 2024 Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Chase Elliott managed to finish 10th. However, the race was a rollercoaster for him. During the early stages of the race, Elliott was positioned in the top 3, but a blend line violation led to a black flag and a drive-through penalty on pit road. This infuriated Elliott, who voiced his frustrations over the radio to his No. 9 team.
Elliott was adamant that he hadn’t committed a violation, but NASCAR didn’t budge. The 2020 NASCAR Cup Series champion vented his frustrations, insisting that he had followed the rules as outlined. It was one of Elliott’s most intense radio rants in recent memory. The Brickyard 400, known for its limited passing opportunities and the importance of track position, had Elliott on edge as he struggled to regain momentum after the penalty.
Elliott entered the Brickyard 400 sitting second in the standings, only 10 points behind Kyle Larson. After the race, though, he was still frustrated with his 10th-place finish, believing that the No. 9 car had the potential to secure a much better result.
