“You Just Put Your Head Down”: Chase Elliott Reflects on NASCAR Suspension Before Much-Awaited Return

There were more than a few things which were similar to what Bubba Wallace did to Kyle Larson last season and what Chase Elliott did to Denny Hamlin a few weeks ago. In both cases, Wallace and Elliott right rear hooked Larson and Hamlin respectively, and ended up not only intentionally wrecking them out of the race, but also at risk of severe injuries and so forth. So the fact that the two incidents were similar, NASCAR had to make sure that the penalty handed to the offenders in both cases was also similar. And that’s what it was. Just as Wallace was given a one-race suspension, so was Chase Elliott.

This was something on which Steve Phelps had also commented, claiming that they had to make sure the penalties were similar.

“It would be difficult to have a conversation with Denny or Bubba or someone else and say, ‘Hey, it was not OK for Bubba to do it and it’s OK for Chase to do it,” Phelps said. “We hate it but it’s a call we needed to make.”

Steve Phelps to me yesterday on suspending Elliott: “It would be difficult to have a conversation with Denny or Bubba or someone else and say, ‘Hey, it was not OK for Bubba to do it and it’s OK for Chase to do it. … We hate it but it’s a call we needed to make.”

— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) June 4, 2023

Elliott too was in agreement with this decision and the precedent set by NASCAR. Although he did point out the fact that he isn’t too bothered by things he can’t control.

Chase Elliott reacts to his one-race suspension for wrecking Hamlin at Charlotte

Speaking ahead of his return at Sonoma having served his one-race suspension, Elliott claimed he understands and respects NASCAR’s decision to penalize him the way they did. “You look at the situation last year and I get it and I respect their decision,” Elliott said as per FOX Sports.

“At that point in time when you get told that decision, you just put your head down and start thinking about the things you can control, because you certainly can’t go back and change the past,” he described.

“For me, it’s been all eyes on trying to go fast here and putting together a good race.”

Elliott isn’t proud of what happened, but he is only looking forward

Having opened up on his respect for the decision to suspend him, the #9 driver further shed some light on things like his conversation with Denny Hamlin, whether he regrets what happened or not, and if he’ll do the same thing should he be in the same position on the racetrack.

Elliott revealed he had a “very mature” conversation with Hamlin, one which he didn’t want to reveal much of. He emphasized that in no way is he proud of what happened, but what happened is in the past, and he can’t do anything about it.

As for what he would do if he was in a similar position again, the Hendrick star added he’ll simply try and “go faster”, get ahead of the other driver.