LCQ, Clash RACE thread

[Chase Fan 79]

Regarding Chase Elliott’s popularity, here’s the way I read it: a majority of fans still want their favorite driver to reflect the best part of humanity. Bill Elliott was popular because he was just a straight shooter southern guy who always seemed like the guy you wish lived next door. Everybody’s favorite friend. Bill still had (and has) lots of fans. Earnhardt Jr inherited those who loved his Dad AND a lot more who wanted him to carry on a dynasty. Chase brought so much of his Dad’s persona and became the natural heir to Junior’s reign.

I pull for Ross, Elliott and a couple others. Chase is real, and that keeps him MPD.

What people look for in a driver is very unique and personal. There are those that will just jump around pulling for the next big thing as they need a guy that wins a lot. Other guys like to root for the villain and they were mostly Earnhardt fans. LOL. Others though look for a person they feel connected to in some way and can relate to. For me the connection to Chase is easy because I have so many great memories of watching races with my dad and pulling for Bill. We stuck with him through it all and it was so awesome later in life to see his late-career resurgence. Bill Elliott was and is still a class act that drove with great respect for the other drivers and the sport and I am so genuinely happy for him to see him doing as well as he is (actually doing an IROC race this year?) and that his legacy is living on.

As for the people knocking Chase...to each their own I guess but to me you have to kind of look for reasons to not like him. For those that don't think he's "exciting" enough or gets fired up enough just go over to Youtube and listen to his audio of when Larson pinched him into the wall at Fontana. He was pretty fired up then. LOL. Also his feud with Harvick was fun and he showed he will take no BS. People were rightly upset that he wrecked Denny at the 600 in 2023 but then complain he is too mild-mannered or boring? Some people will never be happy and always look for fault. Kyle Busch is really exciting but not many like him LOL.

 

[OldTimer]

What people look for in a driver is very unique and personal. There are those that will just jump around pulling for the next big thing as they need a guy that wins a lot. Other guys like to root for the villain and they were mostly Earnhardt fans. LOL. Others though look for a person they feel connected to in some way and can relate to. For me the connection to Chase is easy because I have so many great memories of watching races with my dad and pulling for Bill. We stuck with him through it all and it was so awesome later in life to see his late-career resurgence. Bill Elliott was and is still a class act that drove with great respect for the other drivers and the sport and I am so genuinely happy for him to see him doing as well as he is (actually doing an IROC race this year?) and that his legacy is living on.

As for the people knocking Chase...to each their own I guess but to me you have to kind of look for reasons to not like him. For those that don't think he's "exciting" enough or gets fired up enough just go over to Youtube and listen to his audio of when Larson pinched him into the wall at Fontana. He was pretty fired up then. LOL. Also his feud with Harvick was fun and he showed he will take no BS. People were rightly upset that he wrecked Denny at the 600 in 2023 but then complain he is too mild-mannered or boring? Some people will never be happy and always look for fault. Kyle Busch is really exciting but not many like him LOL.

I seem to lead towards those that could be considered "boot strap" type personalities. Of course, this could also be construed on a race-to-race basis. Will cheer on a driver that appears to be playing at higher than is normal station, especially if they have inferior teams and equipment. Hard to justify support for golden spoon participants.

 

[sdj]

I think Chase wins because his fans load up the voting by repeat voting over and over. JMHO

 

[Chase Fan 79]

I seem to lead towards those that could be considered "boot strap" type personalities. Of course, this could also be construed on a race-to-race basis. Will cheer on a driver that appears to be playing at higher than is normal station, especially if they have inferior teams and equipment. Hard to justify support for golden spoon participants.

So you are saying you only pull for the underdog? I think that's cool but I hesitate to start labeling people as "golden spoon participants." Winning in this sport is hard even in the best of equipment and I think the equipment in this generation of car is more equal than ever. Look at Larson - according to many the best thing ever to get behind the wheel of anything and he almost missed the big show Sunday night and struggled mightily in qualifying/heat races Saturday. If he had missed the show I was so prepared with a sarcastic joke along the lines of "hey, at least he's freed up to run other stuff during the race"

Also - people are quick to label Chase that way because of the name and his dad supporting his career and there is no doubt that was a huge help and Chase would not be here without it. He had to have the talent though. I remember an interview with Rick Hendrick where he said he knew Chase the real deal because of a test where he was turning laps in the same range as Jimmie Johnson and this was back prior to Jimmie's decline and before Chase had any cup experience. Bill, while supportive, did not have unlimited resources and prior to 2014 when Chase joined JRM for the Xfinity series they had no deal in place and it came together pretty late and the rest as they say is history. I have also seen interviews with Bill where he talked about when he saw Chase making the "next steps" in his growth. In short - yes, drivers like Chase may get chances earlier and more often but they still need to perform and you cannot perform without talent no matter what car you are in.