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LOUDON, New Hampshire – After winning the Superstar Racing Experience final on Saturday night at Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway, Chase Elliott passionately pleaded to bring NASCAR’s inaugural Cup Series to the short track.
“Just the atmosphere of the fairground, the energy last night was absolutely amazing,” the defending Cup Series champion told reporters on Sunday before racing at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. “I wish you were all there to see it. It was crazy. It just made sure that this is where we belong in my eyes.
“I’ve always felt that way, but this other lead is not the answer. The energy is there, in the city, and we don’t need to look any further. That’s it for this city. Without a doubt.”
NASCAR hosted its first Cup race last month at Nashville Superspeedway, a 1.33-mile oval 35 miles from downtown Lebanon, Tennessee. It was the first time that the first circuit had raced in the region in 37 years.
Speedway Motorsports is working on a Fairgrounds track renovation project with the aim of bringing the Cup Series back to the 0.596 mile track for the first time since 1984. The initiative has met local resistance at public meetings.
NASCAR executives have suggested that the Nashville Market could host two annual Cup events, one at the fairgrounds and the other at the superspeedway (which drew 40,000 sold-out spectators for its first Cup race, won by Kyle Larson).
Saturday SRX race drew a crowd that would have exceeded 15,000. When asked if the track could accommodate a Cup race once fitted with mandatory SAFER barriers, Elliott replied, “Go for it. Why not?
“All they have to do to get there is what they need,” he said. “As little or as much as it takes to make it, that’s the answer. I don’t know how much it would take or anything, but it’s the location. There’s no question about it.”
Nashville! I’m not sure I’ve ever been so proud to be a racing fan than right now the support and energy you showed yourself last night was unreal and I sincerely thank you for coming. show what this place is capable of. I made memories that I will cherish forever … pic.twitter.com/2zplUdszk5
– Chase Elliott (@chaseelliott) July 18, 2021
Beyond the opportunity to race with his NASCAR Hall of Fame dad, Bill, Chase Elliott said he “had a duty” to compete in the SRX event at Nashville Fairgounds as a longtime supporter of the track, where he had previously raced in his signature All-American 400 event for the super late models.
But personal affection isn’t the only reason NASCAR’s most popular three-time driver (a low-key and reserved star who isn’t usually so outspoken on high-profile matters) feels passionate about the Nashville Street Short as a suitable location for the first showcase of stock car racing.
“It has to do with my education or my path to NASCAR, so I think in that sense that makes it special,” said Elliott, who was a featured guest on the track two years ago at a media event that NBC Sports attended. “Also, as the company has changed over the years, we are never going to build a racetrack this close to a city, which in my opinion is a lag for the sport in general compared to others. sports. You’re going to a football or baseball game, and you’re in the middle of town. In the race, you can’t make that (with) noise. You’re just not going to build a racetrack in a downtown area.
“Well, we have one in a downtown area that’s been there and has been there for years and years and years. Thus, it would easily become the most easily accessible racetrack to a popular downtown location where people can go for a ride and get downtown via Uber, taxi, or whatever. And we don’t have that anywhere else. So I think for that reason it would be very special.
Saturday night’s victory was special for Elliott, who fought for victory with his father, Bill, and series co-founder Tony Stewart (who finished runner-up and won the SRX’s inaugural season championship at six races).
“We were literally racing for the race win last night, and it wasn’t a fluke, a joke or a setup,” said Chase Elliott. “We were legitimately doing 1-2 races which is amazing. Tony has always been one of my heroes. To share the podium with them both, I couldn’t have asked for something more special than that.
After traveling to Charlotte after the race, Elliott flew to New Hampshire with Hendrick Motorsports manager Jeff Gordon, who supported Elliott racing SRX, as did team owner Rick Hendrick (who texted congratulations).
Elliott, who has competed in some sprint car events last week, also had to clear SRX with NASCAR and said, “Everyone I spoke to supported me, at least to the face, and open.
“I’m like, ‘Hey, I got the chance to go running for my dad at a live TV event, and we’re going to have a time that we might never get the chance to. redo, “” said Elliott, who mentioned heading to New Hampshire for Sunday’s race during his national winner’s television interview on CBS. “And there was no one who said, ‘It’s a bad idea, it’s stupid or we’re going to be crazy about it.’ It was nothing but support, and it’s super cool, and you should go do it.
“From the top of NASCAR to the top of HMS. I feel like it was a win-win for everyone. I thought it was an entertaining event. The crowd was fantastic. Speaking of the fairground, the short track races, Saturday night and now we can come and race NASCAR today, which obviously is the main focus, and where my priority is, so yeah I have feel like it’s just fine all around.
Hendrick’s teammate Kyle Larson also won the prestigious King’s Royal on Saturday night at Eldora Speedway. NASCAR’s revamped 2021 calendars that avoided practice and qualifying on condensed race weekends gave Cup drivers more chances to work in the moonlight.
“We’re bringing the motorsport community together, and that’s a good thing,” said Elliott. “We’re just more practical right now. And in doing so, we are able to use our platform here and develop motorsport elsewhere, which is a victory for everyone at all levels, and I hope everyone sees it from this. way.
Stewart said last week that a second season of SRX has yet to be confirmed, but Elliott hopes to return with other Cup stars in 2022.
“I think they have to keep changing the drivers,” he said. “I think that’s what makes this thing special, so whether I go back or not, I think the other guys in the Cup should go every now and then. Absolutely, I think they should keep changing it and keep new faces through this deal.
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