Chase Elliott, driving the No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, was forced out of the Bass Pro Shops Night Race at Bristol after a collision in the closing laps. The accident occurred during the final stage when Elliott attempted to regain position but was hit from behind, ending his race prematurely. This Chase Elliott Bristol accident left the competitor frustrated as he had been working his way back through the field.
Details Surrounding the Incident That Ended Elliott’s Run
The crash unfolded after Elliott, trying to navigate back to the bottom lane of the track, was suddenly struck from behind. Elliott explained the moment clearly, noting,
“The No. 22 (Joey Logano) got position on me. I thought I was doing the smart thing just trying to get back to the bottom. I guess I thought I was clear back down in line. I visually saw the gap, so I just tried to get back in line and I got a huge shot from behind. I’m not sure if the No. 42 (John H. Nemechek) got pushed in there or he wasn’t expecting me to come back to the bottom or what the reasoning was, but nonetheless, it happened and it’s done.”
—Chase Elliott.
Challenges With Tire Conditions During the Race
Elliott faced difficult tire conditions that complicated his efforts throughout the event. He described the track as “super sketchy,” which made it hard to know how aggressively to push the car.
“Our No. 9 NAPA Chevy was really good for a few laps, and then I felt like we struggled. We had spent the majority of the night in the back of the pack, just trying to get ourselves back in position and back on the lead lap. Once we did and we got back up towards the front, I just felt like we needed some balance adjustments there once we started running the pace of the leaders. We were working on it and making it better.”
—Chase Elliott.
Adapting Driving Strategy Amid Tire Wear and Track Position
Elliott noted that the tire wear didn’t so much force a change in his driving style but affected how much pace he could push based on his track position. Trapped a lap down early, the team was slow to call a pit stop adjustment, which affected their position. He said,
“I don’t know that it forced you to change your style as much as it was just where you were running and how much pace you were pushing. We were in such a terrible position getting trapped a lap down early. We were probably a little late to realize that we needed to stop. But on the same token, if it goes green, it probably would have worked out OK for us. Being in the back of the pack versus being upfront was certainly a big difference in how I was driving the car. We were working on our balance and it was slowly getting better.”
—Chase Elliott.
Impact of the Incident and What Lies Ahead
The Bristol race presented an intense test for Elliott and his Hendrick Motorsports team as they battled challenging tire conditions and tough competition. Despite showing potential by climbing from the back to the front pack, the crash abruptly ended Elliott’s chances for a strong finish. This incident highlights the unpredictable nature of short-track racing at Bristol, where split-second decisions and tight pack racing can dramatically shift outcomes. Moving forward, Elliott and his team will likely analyze this race closely to refine strategy and adjustments, aiming for more consistent performance in upcoming events.
