“They didn’t do enough testing. The car wasn’t ready.” That was Denny Hamlin, not mincing words (again) when talking about the ever-controversial Next Gen car. And he’s not alone. From drivers to diehards in the stands, everybody seems to have a hot take, a fix-it-all idea, or at the very least, a bone to pick with the Next Gen car and the current state of NASCAR. Whether it’s the short track package, safety issues, or parity problems, the complaints roll in like clockwork every Monday.
But amid the noise, there’s Chase Elliott, who’s taken a slightly more… chilled approach. No table-pounding. No Twitter tirades. Just a shrug, a smirk, and a pretty sharp reality check. While the rest of the garage plays engineer-from-the-couch, this Cup Series champ is staying in his lane—literally and figuratively. And what did he say? Well, it might just be the calmest take yet.
Chase Elliott isn’t here to fix NASCAR, he’s just here to race
When asked about how to fix the Next Gen car, Chase Elliott didn’t bring a blueprint. Instead, he brought perspective. “I don’t know what the right direction is, what would be a fix-all, if even there is a fix-all,” he admitted. Elliott chose realism instead of offering a wish list like some of his peers.
People like Denny Hamlin have asked NASCAR to make the cars harder to drive in order to improve the racing product. On the other hand, Kyle Busch has noted that the car’s characteristics simply don’t suit every driver. But not Elliott. He simply stated, “No matter what we have, someone was going to complain about something.” And he is right! From option tires and championship race venues to changes in DVP and Open Exemption Provisional, no matter what NASCAR has tried to improve racing, it has always faced criticism from fans and drivers alike.
Elliott, however, sees the chaos, especially racing on short tracks with the Next Gen cars, as part of the job: messy, imperfect, and constant. That’s where the ‘Chase Elliott energy’ really kicks in. “I don’t care how good it is or how bad it is, there will always be negativity and Monday morning quarterbacking. I just show up each week and try to make the most of whatever rules package,” he bluntly stated. He knows he doesn’t run the show and isn’t pretending otherwise.
He has got his nose to the grindstone – working with his @TeamHendrick team to get better every week. @chaseelliott answer when asked his view on short track fix, tires, car config old school vs new school solutions etc. etc. in media avail this week was clear. Honest answer… pic.twitter.com/nq1jbCa8Lb
— Claire B Lang (@ClaireBLang) May 2, 2025
It’s not the first time he’s brushed off the noise with his ‘I don’t care’ attitude. In March 2025, he showcased the same when pressed on Martinsville’s option tire drama. That wasn’t defiance. It was clarity. Elliott’s laid-back defiance isn’t limited to setups and tires, either. Back in 2021, during a heated clash with Kevin Harvick, Elliott coolly declared, “I don’t care who he is.” That moment sealed his rep as NASCAR’s unbothered underdog. Whether it’s a feud or a format overhaul, Elliott keeps his emotions in check and his priorities tight. But why is it so? Seems like the 2020 Cup Series Champion has seen something mind-boggling to draw an inference from! And it was the All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro Speedway in 2024.
Remember that day? Ricky Stenhouse Jr. was fined $75,000 for punching Kyle Busch. Before the Coca-Cola 600, Elliott was in a presser. He knew Stenhouse had been fined but appeared stunned when a member of the media informed him of the amount. And maybe that changed many things for him. “That seems like a lot for that situation. You are going to fine him, but you are going to promote with it? Like, what are we doing? That’s a little strange to me. … That’s a lot of money to fine a guy. It’s like, ‘It’s not OK, but we are going to blast it all over everything to get more clicks,’” the #9 driver said. Oh! That’s what brings clarity to a racer: realization. No wonder he said the next thing!
Reflecting on why he does not get involved in any problematic situation, Chase Elliott said, “I just try really hard not to get in weeds with the rest of it anymore because it’s not productive, it’s not a good use of our time, and my time. It’s not a good use of our time.” Maybe that’s the secret. In a sport where everyone’s yelling over each other about fixes, formats, and fairness, Elliott is quietly doubling down on what he can control—driving fast and tuning out the noise.
Chase Elliott eyeing Lone Star redemption in NAPA gold
Chase Elliott heads back to Texas Motor Speedway this weekend, and for the 2020 Cup champion, there’s more on the line than just another race. Despite a storied career and a reputation as one of NASCAR’s most consistent drivers, Elliott’s last points-paying victory came right here in the Lone Star State during the 2024 AutoTrader EchoPark Automotive 400. Since that triumph, he’s endured a 37-race winless streak, his second longest ever.
Yet, Elliott’s 2025 campaign has been anything but a disaster. He remains the only driver to finish inside the top 20 in every race this season, a testament to his steady hand and the No. 9 team’s resilience. With a pair of fourth-place finishes at COTA and Martinsville, and a strong showing at the Clash exhibition race at Bowman Gray Stadium, Elliott sits fourth in the standings, quietly amassing points and keeping his championship hopes alive.
This weekend, Elliott returns to Texas with a fresh look. It’s a striking gold paint scheme celebrating 100 years of his longtime sponsor, NAPA Auto Parts. The special livery isn’t just for show. It’s a nod to the legacy of both driver and sponsor, and a reminder of the high expectations that come with wearing the NAPA colors. For Elliott, it’s an extra jolt of motivation as he looks to snap his winless streak in style.
Elliott has been candid about his season so far, saying, “We want more. I think we’re capable of more. And we just have high expectations. We are proud of those good runs that we’ve had, but we know that there’s more in the tank.” As he returns to the site of his most recent victory, the Texas faithful and “Elliott Nation” will be watching closely, hoping the gold No. 9 can reclaim its place in victory lane.
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