After Alex Bowman joined the long list of drivers facing major consequences of crashing in the arguably unsafe Next-Gen car. Naturally, this has enraged the fans and the driver, alike. Now, speculations suggested a protest by the drivers, as they push the sport to make it safer for them.
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However, Chase Elliott shut down any rumors right after taking shots at NASCAR for going backward.
But should there be a protest?
Chase Elliott says drivers will race today as they normally do, making the moves they need to win at Talladega.
During the pre-race conference, Hendrick Motorsports driver, Chase Elliott, talked about the protest. Although, he didn’t directly suggest whether there will be a protest. But, he emphasized that there is nothing they can do other than go race, and hope things get better.
The 202o Cup Series Champion said, “As far as the race goes, fortunately, or unfortunately, however you wanna look at it, you gotta go and try to do your best and win and do all the same things you would do in the past.”
“I don’t really see that you have a ton of choice other than just try to trust the process and things are gonna get better and hope that we’re taking steps in the right direction.”
Before this, it was Denny Hamlin and Harvick’s tweets that sparked major speculations of a protest.
I agree completely. I know ya'll are out there to win, but as a protest, I'd just run slow in a straight line for the whole race this weekend. Pole sitter gets the win, just train it around, show NASCAR that ya'll are serious about this.
Maybe you drivers should just not race those ugly ass cars !!! NASCAR doesn’t care about you guys !!! Protest the race !!!
Half the field should start & park at Talladega in protest of ineffectual and insouciant #NASCAR #NASCARPlayoffs Who will be the next victim of this new car?
Y’all have got to do something. NASCAR isn’t going to listen and make quick changes unless drivers and teams get together and protest
WATCH THIS STORY: From Chase Elliott To Kurt Busch: 5 Times The Next-Gen Cup Series Car Proved How Unsafe It Is
I strongly believe NASCAR drivers need to protest. Send them a strong message but I know I read easier said than done. This car could be the “death” of someone soon….. 😔
Pretty disappointing that our sanctioning body refuses to acknowledge or accept any responsibility for drivers getting hurt. It’s the same THEY said. WE knew better. It’s wrong these drivers continue to get taken advantage of by the system.
Despite this outrage, the Next-Gen car issues are getting out of hand, and more things keep adding to the list. First, it started with Kurt Busch being left out of most of the 2022 season because of concussion-like symptoms.
Soon, Kevin Harvick complained about “Crappy” parts as Kyle Busch and Martin Truex Jr. joined him. Of course, Alex Bowman joined Kurt with his concussion symptoms.
Surprisingly though, Elliott said what he said in the press conference right after he took shots at NASCAR for the way they handled the new car.
Chase Elliott thinks NASCAR is going backward
In another conference ahead of the Talladega race, Elliott spoke against NASCAR, as he talked about them going backward.
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DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 19: Chase Elliott, driver of the #9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet, waits in the garage area during practice for NASCAR Cup Series 64th Annual Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 19, 2022 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images)
He said, “We should have gone forward with a new opportunity at a new car. You have all of these years of experience and knowledge and time of racing and crashing these cars and teams working on them and building them.”
“It just blows me away that we can have something new in 2022 that offers all of this technology and all of this time and experience of so many super talented people in this sport, and we allow it to go backwards, especially with safety.”
But what do you think? Did NASCAR really go backward? What went so wrong that drivers are afraid of going out to race?