A whirlwind of emotion and chaos unfolded during the Ally 400 race held at Nashville Superspeedway this past weekend, culminating in a controversial finish that left fans and drivers divided. Chase Elliott, driving for Hendrick Motorsports, openly expressed his annoyance at finishing the race under caution, voicing the frustration of many. The 1,333-mile oval circuit has seen its fair share of drama with a record five stunning restarts. While drivers Joey Logano of Team Penske and Zane Smith battled for dominance in the final stretch, it was Logano who took the win, solidifying his position in the playoff standings. However, it was the way the race ended that sparked much debate among the drivers and the rest of the community.
Chase Elliott, who was 12th at the start of the sequence triggered by Austin Cindric’s spin, made progress on the first restarts. But the constant stopping and starting took its toll, forcing him to refuel and eventually ending up in 18th place. At the end of the race, Elliott did not mince his words:“If I was a fan and saw the race end cautiously, I would be upset,” he told Frontstretch’s Stephen Stumpf (below).
The broader implications of the restarts were not lost on Team Penske, whose drivers notably benefited. Logano leapt from 14th to claim the win; Ryan Blaney shot up from 31st to 6th; and Austin Cindric improved from 22nd to 15th. Conversely, Hendrick Motorsports’ Kyle Larson managed an eighth-place finish, extending his lead over Elliott by 20 points in the driver standings.
Chase Elliott, driver of the #9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet, waves to fans as he walks onstage during the NCS Driver Engagement on the Main Stage at the Chicago Street Course on July 06, 2024… More MEG OLIPHANT/GETTY IMAGES
The debate extended to the larger NASCAR community. Dale Earnhardt Jr. didn’t mind, stating:
“I am completely fine with unlimited attempts. These five overtime attempts isn’t happening every other week.”
