Chase Elliott’s night at Bristol Motor Speedway turned chaotic when his No. 9 Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports slammed into the wall on lap 311 after contact with John Hunter Nemechek, forcing an early exit and a disappointing 38th-place finish. This marked his second DNF of the 2025 season and first in the playoffs, tying his lowest result from Richmond just a few weeks back. Despite the setback, Elliott clung to seventh in the playoff standings with a slim five-point cushion above the cutline, a spot earned partly from his lone victory at Atlanta Motor Speedway. But overall, this rough outing of his has amplified whispers about his quiet campaign overall.

Beyond that Atlanta triumph, Elliott’s 2025 has lacked the fireworks fans expect from the 2020 Cup champion, with just 397 laps led across 29 races signaling a dip in dominance. “I’m pretty sure our season’s over,” Elliott admitted right after the Bristol wreck, his voice laced with frustration as he processed the damage amid the playoff pressure. Still, he scraped through to the Round of 12 thanks to misfortunes for others like Austin Cindric, showing the razor-thin margins in this format. But something about this Bristol flop hit different, stirring up a storm among supporters who once saw him as untouchable. What exactly pushed them over the edge?

The Bristol mishap laid bare Elliott‘s vulnerabilities, as he attempted to reclaim the bottom lane after Joey Logano edged ahead, only to get clipped from behind by Nemechek, who was apparently nudged by Denny Hamlin, sending the No. 9 hard into the outer barrier and ending his run prematurely. This P38 finish not only echoed his Richmond low but underscored a broader trend of inconsistency for the Georgia native, whose 2025 has seen him battle for relevance despite Hendrick’s powerhouse resources.

This episode in Bristol didn’t just sting in the standings; it ignited a viral X post from @NASCARonReddit that captured Elliott’s downturn with a pointed meme comparing his recent output to Ricky Stenhouse Jr.’s, drawing thousands of views and sparking heated discussions among the NASCAR community.

Wow… Been rough for Elliot fans and all 6 @StenhouseJr fans. (via u/No_Bullfrog_5453) https://t.co/KRwm313f8J #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/g8iBwP8F0I

— r/NASCAR on Reddit (@NASCARonReddit) September 14, 2025

Reflecting on the chaos, Elliott explained, “The No. 22 got position on me. I thought I was doing the smart thing just trying to get back to the bottom. I guess I thought I was clear back down in line. I visually saw the gap, so I just tried to get back in line, and I got a huge shot from behind.” This candid breakdown highlights how a split-second decision unraveled his night, much like his 2023 season, which was derailed by a snowboarding injury that sidelined him for six races and kept him out of the playoffs altogether.

His rebound to third at Gateway earlier showed flashes of his old form, but Bristol’s fallout, coupled with just two wins since 2024, paints a picture of a star grappling with expectations in a field where drivers like Kyle Larson rack up multiple victories annually. His other post-race thought, “It was a game of just how quick could you get to the bottom after a few laps to preserve your tire,” reveals the tire management woes that compounded the wreck, turning a competitive stint into a new low.

Insiders like Steve Letarte and Jeff Gluck have noted his consistency but lack of outright pace, warning that without quicker cars in upcoming rounds, his title shot could fade fast. And now, the fans didn’t spare him either.

Fan backlash builds in the wake

One fan quipped, “Hey now, just because the members of the Ricky Stenhouse Jr. fan club hold a meeting at the Shoneys on Hwy 83 doesn’t mean there aren’t a lot of us. Last month there were so many of us they had to push two tables together. My buddy Joshua is an Elliot fan. If he could read this, he would be quite upset.” This lighthearted jab underscores the niche loyalty Stenhouse commands, built on his gritty underdog story from Mississippi roots and back-to-back Rookie of the Year titles in the Xfinity Series in 2011 and 2012.

While Elliott boasts seven straight Most Popular Driver awards from 2018 to 2024, Stenhouse’s fanbase thrives on moments like his 2023 Daytona 500 triumph, which extended the longest race ever by two overtimes. The comment ties into broader frustrations, as Elliott’s supporters contrast his muted 2025 against Stenhouse’s steady presence in mid-pack battles.

Shifting gears, another voice chimed in. “But wait, I’m told that Chase finished 4th in the regular season standings and was in contention for the regular season title, so I’m not allowed to ask for changes to be made. In the current format I’d rather be Denny Hamlin or Larson and win 4 or 5 times in a season and finish 5th in the standings and have an extra 3 or 4 DNFs. Wins are way more important than being consistent.”

This highlights the playoff system’s emphasis on victories, where Hamlin’s five wins in 2025 vaulted him to the top seed despite occasional stumbles. Larson’s multi-win seasons, including six in 2024, exemplify how triumphs buffer DNFs, contrasting Elliott’s single Atlanta score that barely kept him afloat. The fan’s point echoes debates since the 2014 format shift, prioritizing drama over steady points hauls like Elliott’s pre-playoff fourth-place regular season run.

Echoing that sentiment, a commenter noted, “Winning is what matters, and Chase isn’t doing that enough for the team he is on.” Hendrick Motorsports’ legacy demands dominance, with past stars like Jeff Gordon amassing 93 wins and Jimmie Johnson seven titles. Elliott’s two wins over the last three years pale against that, especially post his 2022 four-victory surge, fueling calls for more aggression amid Hendrick’s 2025 team highs from Larson’s speed.

The irony wasn’t lost on another: “But that’s the MOST POPULAR DRIVER! Lol. Got a count for something, right?” Elliott’s fan-voted popularity streak, extending into 2024, stems from his approachable demeanor and Bill Elliott‘s legacy as a 16-time winner in that category. Yet this dig questions if fame overshadows results, especially as his 14 top-10s in 2025 haven’t translated to podium dominance. It recalls how popularity awards, fan-driven since 1956, sometimes clash with on-track metrics in NASCAR’s star-making machine.

Pushing further, someone suggested, “Someone needs to make a #rickystenhouseto48 hashtag trending online.” This nods to Stenhouse potentially eyeing Alex Bowman’s No. 48 ride at Hendrick, amid Bowman’s own 2025 struggles with zero wins and playoff elimination. Stenhouse’s JTG Daugherty tenure, highlighted by his 2024 Talladega upset, positions him as a dark horse for bigger teams, contrasting Elliott’s secure spot despite similar win tallies.

Wrapping the reactions, a final take offered, “People just need to understand that Elliot is a modern-day Kenseth. Nice guy, decent driver. He’s no Stewart, Gordon, Jimmie, or even Larson.” Matt Kenseth’s 39 wins and 2003 title came through consistency over flash, much like Elliott’s approach amid his 8 top-fives this year. Unlike Tony Stewart‘s three crowns or Gordon’s era-defining runs, Elliott’s style draws fair comparisons, especially as Larson’s bold moves yield more hardware in the same garage. This perspective is rooted in NASCAR’s evolution, where nice guys like Kenseth succeeded but often got overshadowed by aggressors.