Last fall at Talladega, Chase Elliott faced a nightmare that derailed his playoff hopes. In a race that could have boosted his championship run, Elliott was caught in a historic disaster — the largest wreck in Talladega’s long history, involving 28 cars. Elliott was left stranded in the grass, unable to move, as chaos unfolded around him. His frustrated team radio captured the moment perfectly, with Elliott venting about drivers helplessly spinning their wheels. Reflecting on the incident later, Elliott joked that it looked like a group of clowns arguing and pleading on the grass.
But for Elliott, the wreck wasn’t just another Talladega memory; it exposed deeper issues in NASCAR’s approach to safety. As NASCAR heads back to Talladega for the first time in 2025, Elliott isn’t holding back. He’s raising alarm bells about “disaster engineering” and NASCAR’s failure to fix the problems that led to such massive wrecks.
Although Elliott has two wins at Talladega, the track’s wrecks have left lasting scars. Ahead of this weekend’s race, he’s chasing a third victory but remains deeply concerned about safety. Speaking candidly, Elliott pointed to aerodynamic flaws in the car’s design, emphasizing that NASCAR has had plenty of time to make improvements but hasn’t moved fast enough.
His concerns aren’t isolated. Blow-over flips have become disturbingly common, with Ryan Preece and Josh Berry both suffering scary crashes this season. Kyle Busch has also voiced frustrations, saying NASCAR often ignores driver feedback, while Brad Keselowski noted that although efforts were made to test new safety options, none have worked yet. NASCAR plans some updates later this summer, but for now, Talladega’s dangers remain unchanged.
Meanwhile, Elliott is also dealing with rumors surrounding his crew chief, Alan Gustafson. Despite criticism after a rocky start to the season, Elliott is standing firmly by Gustafson’s side. He praised their nearly ten-year partnership, crediting their bond for much of his career growth, including his 2020 Cup Series championship. Elliott made it clear: loyalty to his team is non-negotiable.
As he heads into another Talladega battle, Elliott knows the risks are higher than ever — but he’s ready to fight, with the people he trusts the most by his side.
