NASCAR fans are known for their passion and loyalty to their favorite drivers, and the recent success of NASCAR TV ratings has brought attention to what some are calling the “Chase Elliott Effect.” Around Elliott’s return at Martinsville Speedway, Kevin Harvick and Denny Hamlin both made comments attributing the shift in TV ratings to Elliott’s presence at the race.

However, some fans have responded on social media with skepticism and evidence that contradicts this claim.

Drivers Claim to Believe The “Chase Elliott Effect” Theory

Despite the skepticism of some fans, many drivers seem to believe in the “Chase Elliott Effect.” Following the Martinsville race, Kevin Harvick gave an interview in which he discussed the impact that Elliott has on NASCAR’s TV ratings.

Harvick stated, “What impacts our TV ratings, I know that for sure there’s more that want to watch when Chase Elliott is here and you know I think we’re all thankful that he’s back and because it’s just whether you like somebody, don’t like somebody, get along with somebody or don’t – you know there’s just everybody has a piece of the puzzle that you know they fall into and Chase for us, you know he’s our biggest star and he’s the guy that needs to be here every week for it all to make sense currently.”

“So you know I think for me it’s it’s you know that’s important from an all-around picture.”

While Harvick’s comments suggest that he believes in the “Chase Elliott Effect,” it’s worth noting that he also acknowledges that there are many factors that contribute to NASCAR’s TV ratings.

Denny Hamlin on his ‘Actions Detrimental’ podcast, also commented on the impact of Chase Elliott’s absence from NASCAR races. In an interview, Hamlin stated, “When the most popular driver is not at the racetrack, who has the largest fanbase, it’ll play some factor. I think that his fans were fans of his Dad or just fans of his. They’re going to watch NASCAR racing, probably no matter what.” 

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Fans Debunk “Chase Elliott Effect” Theory

While many fans have embraced the theory of the “Chase Elliott Effect,” others have been quick to point out that there may be other factors at play. Some have pointed to the fact that previous races held on Saturday nights, such as the Daytona and Auto Club races, did not see a significant bump in ratings despite Elliott’s presence.

One fan tweeted, “If it was the Chase Elliott effect, why was Daytona and Auto Club down?” Another fan pointed out that last year’s Martinsville race was a rain-delayed Saturday night race, which may have contributed to its lower ratings, and that “This has NOTHING to do with Elliott.”

Others pointed out that the timing of the race played a bigger role than any individual driver. “The bump is from Saturday to Sunday afternoon, as Stern notes. Martinsville’s rating and viewers are almost identical to the last Sunday afternoon race on FS1 and there was no Chase Elliott in that one,” said one tweet.

This sentiment was echoed by many fans, who argued that the shift from Saturday night to Sunday afternoon was the biggest factor in the rating increase. “This is pretty misleading since Saturday night races are less popular and we still somehow had fewer viewers than Richmond with Chase back,” said one tweet. Another fan added, “Last year’s race was held on a Saturday night April 9th which was a week later this year. I doubt Chase had anything to do with the ratings.”

While it’s clear that Chase Elliott has a significant fanbase, it’s also clear that there are many other factors at play when it comes to NASCAR’s ratings. As the sport continues to evolve and change, it will be interesting to see how these different factors continue to play out.

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