Elliott makes feelings known on Hamlin having say – Sports News
Denny Hamlin (left) and Chase Elliott (proper) can be battling it out in ‘The Chase’ in 2026 (Image: Getty)
Chase Elliott could also be a former NASCAR Cup Series champion, however evidently alone wasn’t enough to persuade the group to succeed in out for his opinion when debating a transfer away from the Playoff format.
This seemingly was not the case, nonetheless, for Joe Gibbs Racing’s Denny Hamlin, who Elliott believes had a main say in discussions, together with the likes of Hall of Famer Mark Martin.
NASCAR introduced on Monday that it might be transferring away from the 10-race 3-3-3-1 Playoff format, which had been in use since 2014, in favor of a return to a barely altered model of its predecessor, ‘The Chase.’
In attendance on the press convention the place NASCAR President Steve O’Donnell made the announcement had been Martin and Dale Earnhardt Jr., in addition to present drivers Elliott of Hendrick Motorsports, Ryan Blaney of Team Penske, and Chase Briscoe of Joe Gibbs Racing.
Instead of the elimination format the Playoffs supplied via the ultimate 10 races of the season, ‘The Chase’ will see the highest 16 drivers after the 26-race common season compete towards each other via the whole thing of the final 10 occasions, with the factors chief taking the spoils.
Hamlin is the Tenth-winningest driver in Cup Series historical past with 60 (Image: Getty)
Speaking with reporters after the press convention, Elliott defined that at no level did he have any conversations with NASCAR bosses about a transfer away from the Playoffs, nor did he present his enter on what he felt the group might use instead to determine its champions.
“It sounds like Denny was pretty involved in that. And I’m cool with that,” Elliott stated. “Denny’s been around for a long time. I think he’s earned the right, if that is true, I don’t know for sure, firsthand.
“But, if a guy like him and Mark and some of these people had firsthand input on it, I’m totally good with that. I think they’ve earned the right to have that input.
“And I’m also cool with earning that right over time. I don’t know that I deserve an opinion yet on those things. And maybe one day I will. And I’ll be happy to pick up the phone and have a conversation about whatever my opinion is at the time.”
Elliott might not have had the prospect to offer his two cents on what was a prolonged and sometimes heated debate surrounding how NASCAR champions needs to be determined, notably all through final season, however he did word that he’s happy with what was landed on.
The 21-time race winner defined that when requested to take part within the announcement, he would by no means have agreed had he not been prepared to stand behind their determination.
“I just wasn’t going to do it because I don’t want to sit here and lie to y’all about what we got, and tell you how great it is or whatever,” Elliott stated. “So I think that’s important for everybody to understand. I was not coming unless I liked what we had and genuinely felt like it was a good place for our sport and a good compromise for everyone, rewarding a rightful champion every year and protecting the long-term integrity of what we do, I just do think it’s some great stuff.”
Citing some of the “great battles” that ‘The Chase’ beforehand kicked up, Elliott is clearly hopeful that this U-turn by NASCAR can quell some of the strain that has boiled up lately and make sure that come the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway, “a rightful champion” is topped
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