March 29, 2024

3 thoughts on “NSCS: Chase Elliott Will Struggle This Year, and Why That’s Okay

  1. It’s expected of rookies, from me anyway. I was small when I first watched car races, so I remember when Joe Nemechek (I think it was him anyway) crashed a lot. I said something to my dad and Dad said “He’s newer.” In that moment, I learned to expect little from rookies.

  2. I personally disagree with you ideas on Elliott’s rookie year. I’ve been involved in the sport since 1968, so I seen them come and go. Yes, he had some problems in the 500, but all in all had a great speedweeks. Handled Denny Hamlin like a pro in the Xfinity race as well as being on the pole for the 500. Not a bad week for any driver. None of the drivers were ready for the loose conditions the sun and the ambient temps brought on in Sunday’s race. If fate would have had him stay on the pavement instead of the grass, I think it would have been quite a different race. Of course we can all say if, and what if he had stayed in the race but we will never know, but I do think it would have been a decent finish. I have been following Chase since he was running Late Model cars in Georgia when he was 14 years old because I was always a Bill Elliott fan. Yes, I have seen a lot of good rookies come and go in NASCAR, but never one with the maturity and mind presense of what is going on in the entire race, not just driving. One of the other advantages he has over other rookies is the fact that Bill said if we are going to go racing you are going to work on the cars. Like his father, he has a greater understanding of the cars workings, especially setups and what is needed to be done to the car to help the handling then most drivers do for years. One other advantage is his ability to contol his emotions before, during and after the race. The young man has ice water in his veins. All these advantages will help him in his first year in the Sprint series to have a better balanced rookie year. Beyond this the 2016 season really starts this week at Atlanta. With the new Low – downforce cars, which I might add is the best thing NASCAR has done in years to help racing, putting the driver back in the car should make for one of the most exciting years in NASCAR in a while, and it’s about time. It’s going to put every driver on a more level playing field car wise then in years because they will have to drive the cars. No more aero cars glued to the track and running wide open around the turns. It should being back much more passing and better competition. Chase coming out of the Xfinity cars which do not handle as well should help in his change to the new Sprint series cars. It’s going to be an interesting year, not just because of Chase, but for all the drivers. I will give you your opinion on Chase’s rookie year, but I will print this article and file it away and after the year is over I will read it again to see just how close your ideas were on Chase. It will take 9 months to tell, but I think you are not giving Chase credit for how good a rookie he will be when it all said and done. Only time will tell about both of our opinions!

    1. I have no doubt that Chase is an incredible driver, and will likely be a Sprint Cup champion someday. My main thought is to just not put too much pressure on him. Whether he does well this year or not, I just don’t want to see a rookie driver have so much weight on his shoulders. The rookie year is supposed to be a year where a driver matures, learns and has fun. The way that some people are putting pressure on him might now allow him to do all of that.

      Thanks for the comment!

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