At the Ally 400 race held at the Nashville Superspeedway last weekend, a whirlwind of emotions and chaos unfolded, culminating in a controversial ending that left fans—and drivers—divided. Chase Elliott, driving for Hendrick Motorsports, openly expressed his annoyance with the race ending under caution, encapsulating the frustration of many.
The 1.333-mile oval track saw its fair share of drama with a record-setting five overtime restarts. As drivers Joey Logano from Team Penske, and Zane Smith duelled for dominance in the final stretch, it was Logano who clinched victory, thereby solidifying his position in the playoff standings. However, it was the manner of the race’s end that sparked significant debate among the drivers and further community.
Chase Elliott, positioned 12th at the onset of the sequence triggered by Austin Cindric’s spin, pushed his way up during the initial restarts. But the relentless stop-start nature took its toll, forcing him to pit for fuel and ultimately finishing in 18th place. Reflecting on the race’s end, Elliott didn’t mince words:
“If I was a fan and I watched the race end under caution, I’d be pissed,” he told Stephen Stumpf of Frontstretch
The broader implications of the restarts were not lost on Team Penske, whose drivers notably benefited. Logano leapt from 14th to claim the win; Ryan Blaney shot up from 31st to 6th; and Austin Cindric improved from 22nd to 15th. Conversely, Hendrick Motorsports’ Kyle Larson managed an eighth-place finish, extending his lead over Elliott by 20 points in the driver standings.
