Chase Elliott’s bold critique of NASCAR’s Throwback Weekend has sparked significant conversation and division among fans and industry insiders. Speaking before the Darlington race, Elliott didn’t hold back, expressing concerns that the nostalgic event has lost its charm, despite originally being started in 2015 to honor NASCAR’s past. As Elliott, NASCAR’s ‘Most Popular Driver,’ continues to ride a wave of fan support, his remarks have ignited a nuanced debate about the event’s future.
During a media session, Elliott candidly shared his thoughts, stating, “I thought I lost it about four or five years ago, so I was way too early to that conversation, I think… Not to be a downer — I joked about this years ago, but if we kept going down the road, we’re going to be throwing it back to me in 2018.” He elaborated further, “At some point, I think we’ve got to chill on it a little bit. I think we’ve rode the horse to death, and we tend to do that a little bit too much.”
While his comments ruffled some feathers within NASCAR circles, they resonated with a section of the fan base. Numerous fans took to social media platform X to express their agreement, backing Elliott’s standpoint and highlighting issues like limited participation and concerns over current car designs. One particular fan noted, “It is dead. Half the field doesn’t participate and with the number placement now they all look shitty. The Xfinity series is keeping it alive barely.”
Furthering this sentiment, another fan stated, “I don’t care for Chase Elliott but he’s right this time. Throwback weekend has run its course and burned out after the first 2 years of doing it.” Another observer expanded on the challenges, saying, “I’ll elaborate then… this was supposed to be a NASCAR throwback but since there’s only a certain number of schemes especially old ones it’s hard to do. Which is why dudes are running 2014 and non NASCAR (the whole point is NASCAR throwback) schemes.”
William Byron, currently leading the driver standings with significant achievements this season, found common ground with Elliott. During his own press session, Byron agreed with the critique, saying, “It’s definitely run its course. I feel like we’ve had so many of them it’s really hard to get it between 40 cars; like you cover most of the paint schemes at some point.” He proposed possible changes, “So, I think maybe it’s something where you bring it back every few years or maybe you go to different racetracks or something… Maybe it’s just getting a bit repetitive.”
The future of NASCAR’s Throwback Weekend hangs in the balance after Elliott’s criticism. Whether NASCAR officials will consider adjustments to the event remains uncertain. Meanwhile, as conversations continue to unfold, drivers are preparing for Darlington, each aiming to boost their positions in the playoff rankings, with or without throwback-themed liveries.
