It’s no secret that Chase Elliott is one of the most talented short track drivers alive. The No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports driver has earned more than a few top-five finishes and wins at circuits such as Martinsville throughout his career. But that perception has changed with NASCAR and Goodyear’s short track tires and packaging dilemma.
Amid rumors of short tracks like Phoenix losing dates in favor of venues like Mexico, Dale Earnhardt Jr. spoke out about the prospect of NASCAR paving the way for more intermediate races. However, not everyone involved believes this is the right path.
Despite Chase Elliott’s recent disadvantage at short tracks, the HMS driver believes the solution to NASCAR’s dilemma is not to solve the problem. Elliott believes the sport should not oversaturate track types, instead focusing on intermediate tracks.
Chase Elliott chooses quality over quantity as he defends short-track racing
Along with Kyle Busch and Denny Hamlin, Dale Earnhardt Jr. has been one of the strongest proponents of the short track dilemma. Junior interpreted recent rumors that Phoenix would lose the day as NASCAR’s decision to slowly move away from this format and improve the race, as the new package failed to deliver on its promise.
But Chase Elliott thinks this is creating a worrying pattern. HMS drivers believe the decision to take advantage of the quality of certain routes could backfire in the long run. “The mile and a half race was really good,” he told the media before the All-Star race. But I don’t think that’s necessarily a reason to buy more of it.
I always feel like less is more. Bristol Night Lace is a perfect example of “less is more”. Because I only go there once a year. It’s so exciting and everyone loves the Bristol Night Races. And it only happens once a year, which makes it special. ” In addition to his own claims, Elliott also stressed that road racing seems to have lost its appeal these days. Frequent visits to road courses meant less exclusivity than when there were only two events on the calendar. Elliott says, “I think the more you do that, the more you lean in one direction and add more and more and more, the more exciting and neat becomes boring quickly.” Told. So I think we have to be careful not to let that happen. ” In considering a better solution, Elliott concluded that it would be more beneficial to the sport if the next generation of cars were better suited to tackling the short track dilemma.
This calendar not only maintains a variety of route types, but also gives each weekend its own charm. An HMS driver concluded: “I’d rather have a better product on board than take away a short-haul vehicle, but I don’t want to get rid of it just because you take away a short-haul vehicle.” . It’s an important part of our sport. ” It’s safe to say that Chase Elliott is eager to save short tracks from a setback in the Cup Series schedule. Speaking of which, his No. 9 HMS is back on the great short-haul route once again, this time with a new model car, which may further prove the point.
Could Elliott’s late-model run at Hickory prove that short tracks aren’t the issue?
As Chase Elliott heads to the legendary Hickory Motor Speedway for the ASA Stars National Tour, the HMS driver is excited to experience short track racing in a new model car. Elliott, who will compete in the Tar Heel 250, where the winner will receive a $15,000 prize, can’t wait to get back to racing in the popular series. However, the last time Elliott drove a late model car at New Smyrna, he finished sixth. The HMS driver remains firm in his position that the problem lies with the next generation of cars, so a solid result at Hickory could further strengthen his case.
Josh Berry’s previous hickory skills have proven to be the only obstacle to a solid finish, and Chase Elliott can forget his short-track woes now that he’s not on a next-gen machine. You can do it. NASCAR talk aside, Elliott talked about his excitement about returning to Late Models. “I’m looking forward to it. I think the last time I ran was at New Smyrna earlier this year, so I’m looking forward to running with these guys again. I hope we continue to progress and improve.” “It’s something that happens once every two or three months, but I’m looking forward to it and hopefully it’s a little bit of fun. We’ll see how it goes.”
With Chase Elliott on the side of short track racing, do you think NASCAR will really move away from its legendary format?
