NASCAR: Chase Elliott’s latest rival has no excuse for his actions

Chase Elliott has found himself in the midst of conflict with several NASCAR drivers, but his latest rival doesn’t have the merit he thinks he deserves.

NASCAR is a sport in which passionate competitors are bound to collide, both on and off the track. Hendrick Motorsports’ Chase Elliott is no stranger to this. From his fiery confrontation with Stewart-Haas Racing’s Kevin Harvick at Bristol Motor Speedway last season to his conflict with teammate Kyle Larson earlier this year, the passion shows for the 26-year-old.

Elliott has shown the ability to stand up to competitors when he feels the need, most notably in 2017 following his run-in with Joe Gibbs Racing’s Denny Hamlin. Hamlin dumped him in an attempt to secure a win in the round of 8 playoff race Martinsville Speedway, and Elliott retaliated at Phoenix Raceway, costing Hamlin a shot at the Championship 4.

Elliott has been on the offensive side as well, going back to his Truck Series days when he dumped then-Richard Childress Racing driver Ty Dillon for the win at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park.

But Elliott recently found himself in another run-in with a driver who does not have the merit you’d expect from someone who shows the aggression he does.

In Sunday’s dirt race at Bristol Motor Speedway, Elliott moved Rick Ware Racing’s Cody Ware out of the way when Ware was holding up traffic. Ware then tried a not-so-great attempt at wrecking the #9 Chevrolet, stating he was “tired of getting bullied by these guys”.

But Ware’s anger is simply unwarranted. For a backmarker driver, the Greensboro, North Carolina native has a habit of overreacting, even wrecking teammate and veteran road racer James Davison out last season at Martinsville Speedway.

Davison stated simply, “how ridiculous, for one of his father’s cars”. Considering the fact that Ware is the son of team owner Rick Ware, a team that NASCAR essentially forced to downsize from four cars to two for manipulating the charter system, the lack of talent and the amount of aggression is unwarranted.

Ware has found himself competing in IndyCar as well, doing so in three races last year. Unsurprisingly, he didn’t find much success, as he recorded a best finish of 19th place at Road America. While his cult hero-like following on Twitter may help, overreacting on a NASCAR circuit essentially as a “pay to play” driver shows he might not have the “Ware” withal.