Chase Elliott Speaks on His Remarkable Recovery at COTA After Ross Chastain Collision
Chase Elliott had plenty to say following his impressive comeback at Circuit of the Americas (COTA) after an incident with Ross Chastain sent him to the back of the field. The Hendrick Motorsports driver, who has built a reputation for resilience, compared his recovery drive to his wild 2019 feat, where he famously rebounded from a mistake to take victory at the Roval.
“I nearly repeated my wild 2019 feat again after Ross’ collision,” Elliott said post-race. “I went all the way to the back because of his outrageously amateur move. It was frustrating because I felt we had a great car, and to get dumped like that, especially early in the race, was just unnecessary.”
The incident occurred when Chastain made an aggressive dive into a corner, misjudging his braking and making contact with Elliott’s No. 9 Chevrolet. The hit sent Elliott spinning and forced him to battle through the field from the rear. However, in classic Chase Elliott fashion, he methodically worked his way back, finishing strong despite the setback.
After the race, Elliott confronted Chastain about the move. “I told him what I thought,” Elliott said. “At some point, you’ve got to have some respect out there. We all race hard, but there’s a difference between racing hard and just making reckless moves that ruin other people’s day.”
Despite the frustration, Elliott remained proud of his performance. “I’m proud of the team for sticking with it. We had a shot even after all that. It just shows how strong this group is.”
Elliott’s comeback drive was a testament to his skill and determination, proving once again why he remains one of NASCAR’s elite talents.
