This year, Chase Elliott hopes that he is in the NASCAR Playoffs until the end at Phoenix. But will he be in the Netflix series if they have a Season 2? Things are pointing toward a return of NASCAR: Full Speed but it might not feature Elliott.
In the first season of the Netflix show, Denny Hamlin and 23XI Racing drivers Tyler Reddick and Bubba Wallace gave the crew a ton of access. There is a reason why they are featured so much in the series, they allowed the crew to come in and film them. At home, at the track, in the RV, everywhere.
While talking with Dale Earnahrdt Jr. on the Dale Jr. Download, Chase Elliott talked about his potential participation in the show. He doesn’t sound like he wants to get involved. Besides, he hasn’t even watched Season 1.
“I don’t know. Obviously, I didn’t do it last year,” Elliott told Jr. “I haven’t watched it at all. So, I think my first step to answering that question would be to watch a little bit of it and just see how bad they would pi-- me off being around all the time. I just, you know, it might not be the most entertaining thing or the most popular answer, but dude I just want to go fast and I want to do my job at a high level and if I feel there’s anything that’s going to take away from that, I’m probably going to say no to it.”
Chase Elliott should participate in Netflix series
For NASCAR’s Most Popular Driver to opt out of something like a Netflix series on the sport, isn’t ideal. Chase Elliott is entitled to his privacy. No one should make him do what he doesn’t want to do or feels is a detriment to his career.
However, at some point, you have to be an ambassador for the sport. If you want NASCAR to succeed in the future, you have to put in work for that. It isn’t enough to just show up on the weekend, race on Sunday, and wave to a few fans here and there.
Chase Elliott has struggled in the last year. There is no denying that. He needs to get back to his winning ways before he worries about a Netflix show or even the playoffs for that matter. This weekend at COTA could be the race he needs to right the ship.
It is understandable to not want camera crews in your house. Then again, most of us aren’t NASCAR superstars like Chase Elliott. I hear where he’s coming from, I do. There is just more that the Most Popular Driver, a former champion of the sport, has to do to promote and advance the sport in the media.
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