Chase Elliott praises Bowman Gray Stadium Clash over LA Coliseum

In a year Chase Elliott has to step up and return to his former championship form, the Clash at Bowman Gray could not have been better. Not to mention, the Madhouse track is much better than the one NASCAR built at the LA Coliseum.

You would think that two tracks that are only a quarter mile long would be almost identical. They are not. The straightaways at the LA Coliseum were not really straight. Those outside walls were bowed out. Not to mention, the corners were basically a U-turn for drivers.

Chase Elliott noted the differences in the tracks. The Hendrick Motorsports driver is usually at his best when discussing the sport and the intricacies of it.

“I think just the size of the track. It just seemed bigger to me,” Elliott explained in his postrace presser. “I don’t know what the technical distance would be, how different it is or not. The straightaways seemed a little longer, the corners weren’t so sharp. Didn’t seem like it was such a sharp apex.

“I think all of those things, that combined with the track surface having some age to it, all three of those things probably had a pretty large impact on the race being better and kind of putting it a little more in your hands as far as tire management and all that stuff. Those would be the three big ones for me.”

Starting off 2025 with a win is major for Chase Elliott. He has had only one win since a fantastic 2022 season where he won five times. Having a win is the minimum. Winning multiple is almost a must.

Chase Elliott wouldn’t mind returning to Bowman Gray

Following his win, Chase Elliott probably wants to race at Bowman Gray every week. He led 171 laps of 200. That is an ass-whooping, to be honest. When asked about coming back to the Madhouse, Elliott had no reservations.

“I don’t have any issue with coming back,” Elliott explained. “Like I said, overall it seemed like a good show. The tire wear came into play. The environment from not only tonight but last night, the place was packed out. Just seemed like a good all-around event.

“Yeah I just feel like if we’re going to race on a football field, this is probably as good of a place as any to do it.”

Chase Elliott is a former champion. These are the performances we expect from him. He is on the verge of 20 career wins in the Cup Series and has already been named one of NASCAR’s 75 Greatest Drivers.

When Elliott is in Victory Lane, that’s good for NASCAR. Having him be competitive and winning races is what the sport needs. If he’s not going to be on the Netflix show, he can at least deliver on the track.