Chase Elliott’s pursuit of the NASCAR Cup Series championship ended in unexpected fashion Sunday.
Elliott found himself in great shape for a restart on Lap 200 of the 312-lap event. He restarted fifth, the highest position of any of the four championship contenders. But on the restart, Elliott dove low on the track and made contact with fellow championship contender Ross Chastain. The bump sent Elliott spinning into the inside wall at Phoenix Raceway.
Chase Elliott spins!
Ross Chastain got into him! #Championship4
📺 : @NBC and @Peacock pic.twitter.com/bh9fWCTwcm
— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) November 6, 2022
Although Elliott avoided major damage, the brush with the wall damaged his car’s toe link. The Hendrick Motorsports driver returned to the track three laps later after repairs, but he had fallen a lap down. He was not a factor the rest of the race. The race, and the championship, was won by Joey Logano.
It’s certainly not the way Elliott expected his championship run to end. Fans of the four-time Most Popular Driver were not pleased with the turn of events. Others, however, believed Elliott deserved blame for the incident.
“Hard to blame Ross Chastain for that incident,” tweeted The Athletic’s Jordan Bianchi. Looking at the replay it appears Chastain was already to Chase Elliott’s inside when Elliott turned down.”
“He could have actually been a decent person and breathed the throttle just a hair, but then that wouldn’t have been very Ross like,” Chuck Ellis tweeted, blaming Chastain.
“All on Chase. You can’t expect someone in the championship 4 to lift for you,” tweeted one user.
Hard to blame Ross Chastain for that incident. Looking at the replay it appears Chastain was already to Chase Elliott's inside when Elliott turned down.
— Jordan Bianchi (@Jordan_Bianchi) November 6, 2022
"Any damage?"
"Killed."
"Toe link?"
"Destroyed man"Chase Elliott around on the restart but the car doesn't look that bad. Familiar story.
Ross tagged him.
"Did I do something wrong there?"
"No bud, I don't know what to tell you. Its how they race. Treat them the same way."— Matt Weaver (@MattWeaverRA) November 6, 2022
Chase not destroying Ross there almost has to be an effect of NASCAR really stepping up their intent wreck penalties.
— David Land™❌ (@DLand91) November 6, 2022
All on Chase. You can’t expect someone in the championship 4 to lift for you
— Andrew (@andrewnjessee) November 6, 2022
Chase Elliott get wrecked* fixed it for ya
— Malachi Hammerle (@Hammer_95) November 6, 2022
Wrecked himself off Chastain*
— ZH (@Hilyer_) November 6, 2022
https://twitter.com/Chuck_Ellis64/status/1589386886602444800
Was just racing for sure. As far as his season of leading the points with the most wins, that was ruined by @NASCAR playoff gimmick
— Timetravlin (@timetravlin13) November 6, 2022
