Chase Elliott Defends Longtime NASCAR Tradition and Questions Need for Change
Chase Elliott Defends Longtime NASCAR Tradition and Questions Need for Change originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
Chase Elliott didn't win on Sunday in Mexico City at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez but did receive special recognition for his third-place finish, joining winner Shane van Gisbergen and second-place finisher Christopher Bell in a unique podium-style finish, not native to NASCAR but more so to Formula 1 and most other motorsports, including IndyCar and dirt tracks across the nation.
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Kyle Larson was questioned about the podium celebrations before last week's race south of the border and suggested incorporating podiums at select NASCAR races, specifically mentioning crown jewels like the Daytona 500 or Coca-Cola 600.
On Saturday at Pocono Raceway, the 2020 Cup Series champion was asked for his thoughts on podiums in the future.
Shane van Gisbergen celebrates on the podium alongside second-place driver Christopher Bell and third-place driver Chase Elliott after Mexico City race.Henry Romero/Reuters via Imagn Images
'Yeah, I am not really for it or against it,' Elliott began. 'I am fine with it. I have no problem giving Shane (van Gisbergen) his congratulations and making sure that he is celebrated properly. He won the race. He deserved the right to that.
"Me being the second loser, I can certainly get in there and make sure that I can appreciate the job that he did. I guess that is kind of what you are getting at.
'There is no doubt would I have rather that been me? Yeah, no question. It's not normal for us, so I am okay with it. I am okay with doing it. I am okay with not doing it. If that is going to be a new thing, then totally fine and we can start a new tradition.
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"But that has not historically been us. So I just want to make sure our focus is being us as NASCAR and that's OK. We are our own form of motorsports and I think we can stand on our own two feet and we can do our own thing. So, as long as we are not doing it to be like everybody else, I am fine. But if that is the case, I am also good not doing it.'
Elliott and his fellow competitors take to the track for Sunday's race with coverage beginning at 2 p.m. ET on Prime.
Related: Chase Elliott Gets Fans' Attention With Smart Reply to Denny Hamlin Post
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 21, 2025, where it first appeared.
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