For someone who has eight consecutive Most Popular Driver awards under his belt, Chase Elliott hasn’t escaped the criticism. After missing the playoffs in 2024, the Hendrick Motorsports driver faced plenty of scrutiny, and now, at 29, the spotlight has shifted again. This time, on his fan base, the notorious Chasecuals, who are catching flak from critics who just don’t get the hype.

Chase Elliott’s reserved demeanor has been a frequent talking point among NASCAR fans and media, especially in an era where larger-than-life personalities often dominate the spotlight.

Some fans openly label him as too quiet or boring, and online commentary includes remarks about his lack of outward charisma compared to other drivers.

Just take the inaugural Mexico race, for example. Despite finishing P3 and standing on the podium wearing a sombrero, Elliott looked unfazed.

Critics have also pointed to his low-key media presence and minimal social media interaction as evidence that he doesn’t broadcast much of himself beyond the racetrack.

This perception has been amplified by certain high-profile fan reactions, with some arguing that his understated nature doesn’t fully match the expectations placed on an 8-time Most Popular Driver award winner.

However, despite the noise, Elliott has remained steadfast and embraced who he is rather than reshaping his personality to please critics. In interviews, he has made it clear that privacy and focusing on racing come first.

“I like the private life, outside of racing. What I like to do, I like it private. I like the fact that no one knows what I like to do,” he said in 2024.

Fast forward to today, and his principles haven’t changed.

The No. 9 driver skipped the awards night after the grueling NASCAR season and went on to send an online vote of thanks to his fans.

Elliott continued his dominant MPD run by a staggering 56% of the total fan vote. This just adds to the line of achievements that have defined NASCAR history. For 35 consecutive years, this award has gone to either an Elliott or an Earnhardt, and Chase gets to be a part of it.

At the same time, as interaction occasionally revealed a dry sense of humor or acceptance of fan culture, even when it’s cold.

When asked about the playful nickname Chasexuals, a name some fans used for his fan base, he responded with light amusement, saying he had only heard it from another driver and that “if that’s how they wanna roll, that’s cool… definitely not on my radar, but I’m happy for them.”

However, despite Elliott’s acceptance of fan enthusiasm even when it’s quirky or critical, some fans aren’t truly amused by the 29-year-old.

Fans slam Chase Elliott’s personality

The HMS driver’s personality, or perceived lack thereof, continued to spark debate among fans and insiders. Some argue that he has become increasingly forgettable in recent years.

One fan remarked, “He’s honestly always kind of been like that, but now he’s kind of regressed to just being a top 6-8 guy in the field, so he’s become kind of forgettable.”

Another added a harsher critique, saying, “He’s never had a personality. It gets surgically removed right after you sign your Hendrick contract.”

A third fan even questioned the hype around him, saying, “Are y’all really trying to gaslight us that Chase Elliott has ever had any more personality than a sun-bleached shop rag?”

Others have sought to highlight no answers behind Elliot’s demeanor, noting that his reserved nature doesn’t necessarily mean he lacks confidence or presence on track.

“His confidence was up pretty high there towards the end of the year. People seem to forget that, while he has been firey at times, he is still a very, very reserved person,” one fan pointed out.

Another observer echoed the sentiment, emphasizing consistency over dramatic change.

“He’s literally always been the same guy imo. I always wonder how he’s the most popular driver aside from his name. Dale Jr had personality at least. Chase is a top-tier robot imo. Incredibly bland personality,” they said.

Yet the debate over Elliott’s liability continues, particularly when compared to past stars of the sport.

One fan bluntly stated, “He really hasn’t changed. He’s always been private and laid-back. I will agree though that the broken leg did affect him mentally for a while afterwards, but he looked back to normal for most of last season.”

Between his private demeanor, high-level performance, and fan expectations, Chase Elliott remains a figure both admired and criticized, with opinions about his personal personality unlikely to fade any time soon.