What Happened to Chase Elliott Today? Why is Chase Elliott Not Racing Today? Why was Chase Elliott Suspended?
by Kowsalya
Updated Jun 05, 2023
What Happened to Chase Elliott Today?
On Tuesday, NASCAR announced the suspension of Chase Elliott, the 2020 Cup Series champion and five-time Most Popular Driver, for intentionally wrecking Denny Hamlin during Monday's Coca-Cola 600 race. As a result, Elliott will be unable to participate in the upcoming Cup Series race at World Wide Technology Raceway, making it the seventh race he has missed in 2023.
During the Coke 600, on Lap 186, Elliott and Hamlin were racing for sixth place when Hamlin's car slid up the track and forced Elliott into the outside wall. In what appeared to be retaliation, Elliott then turned his car into Hamlin's right rear quarter panel, causing Hamlin's No. 11 Toyota to crash head-on into the outside wall on the front stretch dogleg.
Although Elliott denied intentionally retaliating against Hamlin in a television interview, NASCAR's senior vice president of competition, Elton Sawyer, stated that after examining available resources, including SMT data, it was determined that Elliott had deliberately turned his car into Hamlin's.
According to Sawyer, the evidence, including in-car camera footage and the position of Elliott's hands on the steering wheel, supported the conclusion that the contact with the wall did not cause any damage that would prevent Elliott from steering his car. NASCAR deemed it an intentional act by Elliott, leading to the imposed penalty.
To fill in for Elliott at Gateway, Hendrick Motorsports announced that Corey LaJoie, who typically drives the No. 7 Chevrolet for Spire Motorsports, would drive the No. 9 Chevrolet. Additionally, Carson Hocevar, a NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series driver, will make his Cup Series debut by taking LaJoie's seat in the No. 7 car.
Elliott's suspension reflects NASCAR's stance on on-track retaliation, as it aligns with a penalty given for a similar incident involving Bubba Wallace last year. NASCAR parked Wallace for one week after he retaliated against Kyle Larson by intentionally causing a high-speed collision that sent Larson into oncoming traffic.
Denny Hamlin expressed his frustration with the situation, referencing Wallace's suspension and calling for similar action against Elliott. Hamlin criticized Elliott's actions, stating that there was no valid explanation for his intentional maneuver on the racetrack. It is worth noting that Elliott had already missed six races earlier in the season due to injuries sustained in a snowboarding accident.
Why is Chase Elliott not Racing Today?
Chase Elliott, the NASCAR Cup Series champion and a highly popular driver, is not participating in today's race due to a suspension imposed by NASCAR. The suspension came as a result of an incident that occurred during the previous race, the Coca-Cola 600, where Elliott intentionally caused a collision with Denny Hamlin. This deliberate act led to NASCAR taking disciplinary action by suspending Elliott for one week.
The incident occurred on Lap 186 of the race when Hamlin's car slid up the racetrack and squeezed Elliott into the outside wall. In what appeared to be retaliation, Elliott hooked a left turn into Hamlin's right rear quarter panel, resulting in Hamlin's car crashing into the outside wall. While Elliott denied any intention of retaliation, NASCAR officials, after examining various resources such as SMT data, concluded that Elliott's actions were intentional.
Elton Sawyer, NASCAR's senior vice president of competition, explained that the decision was based on multiple factors, including in-car camera footage, hand position on the steering wheel, and the direction of the steering wheel itself. These factors indicated that there was no indication of a mechanical failure or loss of control, supporting the conclusion that Elliott intentionally turned his car into Hamlin's.
Why was Chase Elliott Suspended?
Chase Elliott was suspended by NASCAR due to his intentional wrecking of Denny Hamlin during the Coca-Cola 600 race. The incident occurred on Lap 186 when Hamlin's car slid up the racetrack, causing Elliott to be squeezed into the outside wall. In response, Elliott retaliated by intentionally hooking a left turn into Hamlin's car, resulting in a collision that sent Hamlin crashing into the outside wall.
NASCAR reviewed various resources, including SMT data and in-car camera footage, to assess the situation. After careful examination, NASCAR officials concluded that Elliott's actions were deliberate.
They determined that there was no evidence of a mechanical failure or loss of control that could have caused the incident. The position of Elliott's hands on the steering wheel and the direction in which the steering wheel was turned supported the conclusion that he intentionally turned his car into Hamlin's.
As a result of his intentional actions, NASCAR imposed a one-week suspension on Chase Elliott. The suspension is part of NASCAR's commitment to maintaining fair and safe competition on the track. It serves as a disciplinary measure and a reminder to drivers about the consequences of engaging in retaliatory behavior.
By suspending Elliott, NASCAR sends a clear message that on-track retaliation will not be tolerated. The organization aims to uphold the integrity of the sport and prioritize the safety of all participants.
The suspension prevents Elliott from participating in the upcoming Cup Series race, emphasizing the significance of accountability for actions that jeopardize the well-being of drivers and the overall competition.
Who is Chase Elliott?
Chase Elliott, whose full name is William Clyde Elliott Jr., is a professional stock car racing driver from the United States. He currently competes full-time in the NASCAR Cup Series, driving the No. 9 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 for Hendrick Motorsports.
Additionally, he participates part-time in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, driving the No. 35 Chevrolet Silverado for McAnally-Hilgemann Racing. Elliott achieved a significant milestone early in his career when he won the 2014 NASCAR Xfinity Series championship. This accomplishment made him the first rookie to secure a national series championship in NASCAR and the youngest champion in the history of the series.
In 2016, Elliott transitioned to racing in the Cup Series on a full-time basis. He took over the iconic No. 24 Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports, following the retirement of legendary driver Jeff Gordon. During his rookie season in the Cup Series, Elliott was recognized as the 2016 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Rookie of the Year.
Elliott's most notable achievement came in 2020 when he clinched the Cup Series championship in Phoenix, Arizona. This victory marked the first championship for Hendrick Motorsports since 2016. Throughout his career, Elliott has accumulated a total of 18 wins in the Cup Series, with seven of those victories coming on road courses.
Notably, Chase Elliott comes from a racing lineage. His father is Bill Elliott, the 1988 Winston Cup Series champion. The Elliotts join the esteemed company of other father-son NASCAR champions in history, including Lee and Richard Petty and Ned and Dale Jarrett.
What Happened to Chase Elliott Today - FAQs
On Tuesday, NASCAR announced the suspension of Chase Elliott, the 2020 Cup Series champion and five-time Most Popular Driver, for intentionally wrecking Denny Hamlin during Monday's Coca-Cola 600 race.
Chase Elliott, the NASCAR Cup Series champion and a highly popular driver, is not participating in today's race due to a suspension imposed by NASCAR.
Chase Elliott was suspended by NASCAR due to his intentional wrecking of Denny Hamlin during the Coca-Cola 600 race.
Chase Elliott, whose full name is William Clyde Elliott Jr., is a professional stock car racing driver from the United States. He currently competes full-time in the NASCAR Cup Series, driving the No. 9 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 for Hendrick Motorsports.