Chase Elliott Voices Frustration Over Bubba Wallace’s Driving at Bristol

BRISTOL, Tenn. — Tensions flared between NASCAR drivers Chase Elliott and Bubba Wallace during the Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway on Sunday. Elliott, who has maintained a friendly rapport with Wallace off the track, expressed his displeasure over radio communications, accusing Wallace of ‘mirror driving’ him throughout Stage 2 of the race.

‘The damn 23 [Wallace] mirror drives us every week,’ Elliott said, emphasizing that this is not the first instance of frustration he has experienced with Wallace’s driving style.

This season has been marked by competitive racing, with Elliott also encountering challenges with other drivers, including Ross Chastain earlier in the season. As tensions rise among competitors, Elliott’s issues with Wallace added an extra layer of drama to the race.

Despite the frustrations on the track, Elliott has demonstrated resilience in his performance this season. The driver of the No. 9 car has consistently finished in the top 20 and has secured five top-10 finishes, placing him fourth in the points standings. However, he has only led 44 laps, showcasing a lack of the same speed exhibited by his Hendrick Motorsports teammates, Kyle Larson and William Byron.

Hendrick Motorsports Vice Chairman Jeff Gordon offered insight into Elliott’s current season. ‘You know, you’ve got to get through the rocky times,’ Gordon said last month at Homestead-Miami. ‘If you’re not achieving what you want to achieve, then you know you’ve got to go to work. It’s not unusual for them to get down a little bit on, ‘Hey, this isn’t good enough,’ but I’ve seen them react really well and positively to that too.’

Throughout the Bristol race, many fans anticipated high tire wear and chaotic racing, but these expectations were not realized. Larson dominated for a significant portion of the race, leading for 350 consecutive laps and showcasing the strength of the Hendrick Motorsports team. Meanwhile, Elliott struggled to navigate through the pack and finished in 16th place in both Stage 1 and Stage 2.

Despite his ongoing difficulties, Elliott’s past performances have set high expectations. Following a strong start to the season, including a fourth-place finish at Martinsville, the driver continues to search for his first win since Texas last year.

In a sport where competition is fierce and rivalries can form quickly, the interaction between Elliott and Wallace is just one of many narratives unfolding this season. As drivers continue to battle for position on the track, the stakes are higher than ever, and the pressure remains intense.

With eight races now completed this season, fans can expect a thrilling continuation of the competition, particularly as drivers navigate the intricate dynamics of teamwork and rivalry.