Folks, do you remember that insane moment in 2012 when Jeff Gordon wrecked Clint Bowyer at Phoenix Raceway? The Michael Waltrip Racing driver sprinted full speed down pit road like an Olympic athlete to confront Gordon. That was one of the most hilarious moments in NASCAR history. Notably, over the years, NASCAR has given us some wild and hilarious moments—some intentional, some completely accidental.
However, Phoenix Raceway is one of those tracks that often throws some iconic moments that keep NASCAR alive. But when Chase Elliott is involved, the track delivers some historic drama. In 2020, Elliott was beaming when he qualified for the Championship 4 race. However, officials soon removed him from his starting position after he failed multiple technical assessments. The Hendrick Motorsports drivers started from a dead end, only to win the race and championship.
This remains one of the most dramatic moments in recent NASCAR history. Since then, Championship 4 races have always seemed to deliver Elliott some bizarre moments. Whether it’s pit road drama, wild cautions, or unexpected race twists, Elliott has found himself in the middle of some crazy situations on NASCAR’s biggest stage. But nothing could have prepared him for what happened during the 2024 season finale.
‘So, NASCAR’ moment for Chase Elliott!
The 2024 NASCAR Cup Series Championship race already carried intense tension. Joey Logano led the race and the championship fight as the field headed down pit road at the end of Stage 1. But as the cars lined up for the restart, a bizarre disaster struck. The official Toyota Camry pace car was guiding the field to the green when it made a shocking mistake. As it approached the pit road, the driver seemed to hesitate.
At the very last possible second, the pace car abruptly turned down, cutting across Chase Elliott’s front bumper. But it was too late—the car hit the sand barrels at pit road entry, sending sand flying everywhere and spinning sideways in front of the entire field.. The crash was so severe that NASCAR had no choice but to immediately throw a red flag to clean up the mess, freezing the field on Lap 69 of 312.
Inside the race cars, the drivers couldn’t believe what had just happened. Ryan Blaney immediately cracked a joke on the radio, asking, “Was that Michael Phelps?” Notably, the Olympic legend had driven the honorary pace car earlier in the day. Meanwhile, Denny Hamlin took a sly dig at NASCAR, saying, “This is just so NASCAR.”
Pace car crashes – Chase Elliott’s POV: pic.twitter.com/DNgGKClVV2
— Juan (@leclercelliott_) November 11, 2024
However, Chase Elliot and Co weren’t so happy. His crew chief, Alan Gustafson, sarcastically joked that NASCAR had placed the pace car on its damaged-vehicle policy and gave it six minutes to fix itself. Elliott, who had the best view of the chaos, avoided contact, but the entire situation could have ruined his race. Such an unusual delay in the championship race also shocked fans watching at home.
Notably, some speculated that Elliott might have hit the pace car. But replays cleared that up quickly. While no one knew the exact reason for the incident, many pointed out that it was due to the unusual pit road entry setup at Phoenix Raceway. A few years earlier, NASCAR had flipped the track layout, switching the frontstretch and backstretch. As a result, NASCAR now requires the pace car to exit at Turn 2 instead of Turn 4, an adjustment that may have confused the driver. While this moment was bizarre, it wasn’t the first time a pace car stole the headlines for all the wrong reasons.
When a fan stole the pace car!
The 2024 Phoenix pace car crash embarrassed NASCAR, but it wasn’t the first time a pace car had caused a ridiculous moment. Over the years, several incidents have left fans and drivers scratching their heads. In one of the most unbelievable moments in NASCAR history, a fan managed to sneak onto the grid and steal the pace car before the start of the Winston 500 at Talladega in 1986.
The unidentified individual drove the pace car around the 2.66-mile track like it was a Sunday afternoon joyride. However, NASCAR officials quickly lined up safety vehicles in Turn 4 to form a roadblock, eventually stopping the rogue driver. He was arrested on the spot. To this day, fans still wonder how he managed to pull it off. While this was an epic fan moment, in 2009, the Pace car decided the race result.
During an early caution in the 2009 Kroger 200 at Indianapolis Raceway Park, the pace car entered the track too soon. This mistake triggered a chain reaction. Trevor Bayne and Steven Wallace, the top two cars, spun out. This completely changed the possible race result, as many saw Wallace as a potential winner at the iconic venue. While these memories keep NASCAR alive, now, heads turn to Phoenix for the fourth race of the season.
After two back-to-back wins, Christopher Bell and his Joe Gibbs Racing team will surely be looking for a hattrick. Bell is also the defending race winner at the track. However, drivers like Kyle Busch and Chase Elliott will also be keen to make a comeback. Notably, Phoenix Raceway has proved to be a destination for historic wins and fans would hope for some amazing racing at the iconic track.
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