NASCAR is struggling to restore its viewership to its former levels, but its most popular driver, Chase Elliott, couldn’t care less. The Hendrick Motorsports star seldom participates in promotional activities, a far cry from what’s happening in the IndyCar Series where new standards are being set.
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The open-wheel racing series has released a promo for its upcoming season, building up its most popular star, Josef Newgarden. The advertisement, which is less than a minute in length, highlights Newgarden’s many attributes in a completely humorous and attractive manner. As expected, it had a lot of takers.
Trackhouse Racing’s owner, Justin Marks, shared the video on his X handle with the caption, “This is how it is done…”
This is how its done….. https://t.co/nQBuQDhNYf
— Justin Marks (@JustinMarksTH) January 12, 2025
IMSA pit crew member and motorsports writer Bozi Tatarevic wrote, “This is incredibly well done. Driver-focused ads with a bit of personality and some fun are an excellent approach to growing the viewership for a racing series.”
It did not take long for the barrels to turn on six-time Most Popular Driver Award winner, Elliott.
“Chase is the anchor bringing NASCAR down. They guy is the most ungrateful entitled driver. Bill, Dale, Gordon, Jr, all understood that they needed to put in the work to bring up the sport. Chase got his millions, so he didn’t care what happens to the hand that feeds him,” commented a fan.
Chase is the anchor bringing NASCAR down. They guy is the most ungrateful entitled driver. Bill, Dale, Gordon, Jr, all understood that they needed to put in the work to bring up the sport. Chase got his millions, so he didn't care what happens to the hand that feeds him.
— Manuel Zamora 🚲 (@ZamoraSpeaks) January 12, 2025
Another fan expressed his inability to picture such ads coming out from NASCAR: “Never happen with duds like Chase being most popular.”
One user questioned the commitment of Elliott to the sport. “It isn’t Nascar marketing it is a bunch of overpaid guys who don’t want to be the face of the sport. While marketing is a part of it, the drivers, or ones that could be the face, don’t want to. It is crazy.”
Another fan suggested NASCAR should find stars who are willing to go the extra mile for the sport: “If they’re not willing to participate, don’t include them. I promise, there’s enough willing we can still make this work.”
If they’re not willing to participate, don’t include them. I promise, there’s enough willing we can still make this work.
— Tommy Mattix (@tmattix65) January 12, 2025
Why Elliott hates being a part of promotional activities
One such prime opportunity was to be a part of the Netflix docuseries, Full Speed. Despite participation from his friends, including Ryan Blaney, he refused to let a camera crew follow him around. Elliott reasoned his choice to Dale Earnhardt Jr. in an episode of the DJD podcast.
“I just, I really just want to go fast and I want to do my job at a high level, and if I feel like there’s anything that’s going to take away from that I’m probably going to say no to it,” Elliott had told Junior.
While understandable, Elliott needs to know that he is not just another driver in the field. He is the most popular face in the sport for a reason. And that position come with a responsibility.
All one has to do is look at how Dale Jr. handled that crown. He was almost always on his feet trying to popularize stock car racing across the globe.
The examples set by such icons of the past, and the extraordinary work of rivals, appear to have hit a nerve in the NASCAR fandom. And they want Elliott to do better in promoting the sport.
