“I Hate That” – Chase Elliott Revealed Bitter Aspect of NASCAR He Stands Against in an Interview From 2020

Racing has to be one of the unfairest sports out there. Think about it, a guy loses more than he wins. But the unfairness in racing is beyond what goes on between the green flag and the checkered flag. There is a very harsh reality about motorsports, particularly in NASCAR, which for most is a bitter pill to swallow, but is true nonetheless, the reality which Chase Elliott too opened up about a few years ago.

Speaking in an interview on the Brilliantly Dumb Show in 2020, the Hendrick Motorsports driver came clear on his feelings on the unfair part of NASCAR which he avoided.

“There’s a lot of drivers out there that will never have the opportunities due to funding or whatever reason it may be, and I hate that,” he said. “That’s probably one of the things I dislike the most about racing is it’s not just about a guy’s talent.”

Having said that, Elliott also mentioned that the drivers who do end up having those opportunities, like himself, better be thankful and “try to make the most of them” whenever they can.

Looking at the way his career has turned out to be so far, it can be said that he has capitalized on his share of opportunities.

But has he been thankful?

Chase Elliott made some remarks on his privilege in NASCAR recently

A few weeks ago, Chase Elliott was announced as the recipient of the Most Popular Driver award for the fifth year in a row. And it was during a press conference ahead of the awards in Nashville that he opened up on the benefits he has had because of his surname and his background.

“For me, obviously, I came into a very fortunate situation. Dad had a great connection with the fans, and beyond him, I look at the connection as really an extension of his career and my uncles and my grandfather and just kind of the path and the work ethic that they had to be able to get to where they did and to achieve the goals they did,” he said.

One of NASCAR’s all-time greats was almost forced into quitting because of sponsorship woes.

Hendrick Motorsports Duo Kyle Larson and Chase Elliott Along With Kyle Busch Seek to Break Unfortunate Streak as 2023 NASCAR Series Draws Closer

The importance of sponsors, of financial backing, and funding simply cannot be overstated. Just consider what happened to Kyle Busch in the lat season.

Busch’s longtime sponsor M&M’s announced their departure from the sport, leaving the Joe Gibbs Racing man hunting for the sponsorship money, which never really came despite his and his team, Joe Gibbs Racing’s hard work.

What ended up happening was that Busch had to leave his team and start anew at Richard Childress Racing. Of course, it all worked out well for all the parties involved.

But it could’ve been worse. Think about it, when a two-time Cup champion almost had to quit the sport because of lack of funding, where does a young, up-and-coming driver stand?

It is a serious subject indeed. Whether it’s an issue or a necessary evil, well, that’s subjective.

WATCH THIS STORY: 5 Times Drivers Miraculously Survived Lethal Crashes