Chase Elliott Slams NASCAR’s Approval Process After Phoenix Frustration

Chase Elliott’s 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season has hit a rough patch, and he’s not holding back. After a promising start with strong showings at the Busch Light Clash, Daytona 500, Atlanta, and Circuit of the Americas, Elliott’s momentum screeched to a halt at Phoenix Raceway. The No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports driver struggled from the green flag, unable to find pace or solutions, finishing well off the lead. For a track that hosts the championship finale in November, Phoenix is a critical benchmark—and Elliott’s dismal performance there has him sounding the alarm. “We’ve got work to do,” he admitted, visibly frustrated after three races of top-tier speed unraveled in the desert.

But Elliott’s woes aren’t the only storm brewing in NASCAR. A fiery controversy erupted at Phoenix with Katherine Legge’s Cup Series debut, reigniting debate over NASCAR’s lax driver approval process. Legge, a veteran of Indy 500, Formula E, and IMSA, had just five stock car starts—four in Xfinity and one in ARCA—before stepping into NASCAR’s elite tier. Her race ended in chaos, spinning twice and triggering a crash with Daniel Suarez. While Suarez didn’t fault Legge personally, he unleashed on NASCAR: “I was more disappointed in NASCAR than her. The process has to be so much better.” His words echoed a growing chorus of top drivers, including Elliott, Kyle Busch, Denny Hamlin, Joey Logano, and Kyle Larson, who demand stricter standards.

Elliott didn’t mince words in a NASCAR on Fox interview. “This is the pinnacle of NASCAR, the very top tier,” he said. “We need to make sure everyone is ready to go.” He welcomed diversity but stressed preparation, recalling his own path through ARCA and Xfinity before Cup racing. Busch, a 62-time Cup winner, called the system “broken,” questioning why “suits and ties” alone decide approvals without input from drivers in “fire suits.” Hamlin pointed to IndyCar’s rigorous testing program, contrasting it with NASCAR’s near-open-door policy. “We’re not strict on who gets to run Cup cars,” he said. “It should be the most elite series.”

Logano highlighted Larson’s Indy 500 prep—a month-long process with extensive practice—versus NASCAR’s 20-minute warm-up for rookies. Past examples fuel the fire: Juan Pablo Montoya and Danica Patrick thrived in Cup only after seasoning in Xfinity, while recent debuts like Helio Castroneves’ Daytona 500 flop (39th after a crash) expose the risks of rushing in. NASCAR’s inconsistent approvals—sometimes leaning on simulator time or provisional rules—have left veterans like Jimmie Johnson and Martin Truex Jr. baffled.

For Elliott, Phoenix was a double blow: a subpar finish and a front-row seat to NASCAR’s latest misstep. With Hendrick Motorsports still a powerhouse—teammates William Byron, Larson, and Alex Bowman lead the standings—Elliott’s early season shine has dulled. As he eyes redemption, the bigger question looms: will NASCAR tighten its reins, or keep rolling the dice on untested talent? Fans and drivers alike are watching, and the pressure’s on for answers.