

NASCAR's new Next Gen car developed a rash of problems in the first four playoff races, and Bowman's concussion seemed to push the drivers to their breaking point. The race was one of the cleanest in memory at Talladega and certainly the least dramatic through the first five races of the playoffs. He doesn't say much, but when he speaks, everybody knows he's not just popping off.

“I think these guys are concerned and he sees a teammate hurt, and he's a young guy with a career ahead of him,” Hendrick said. Rick Hendrick said he wasn't surprised when his 26-year-old superstar took a rare public stance. Alex Bowman, his teammate at Hendrick Motorsports, and Kurt Busch missed Sunday's race with concussions and Cody Shane Ware competed with a broken foot. It's the playoffs, after all, and there's a championship to be won.Īnd it was Chase Elliott, NASCAR's most popular driver who a day earlier accused series leadership of taking a step backward in safety, who drove to victory lane and and earned the automatic berth into the third round of the playoffs.Įlliott, who typically avoids controversial conversations, joined the growing chorus of veteran drivers who found NASCAR's slow response to their concerns unacceptable. Or maybe they'd send their message to NASCAR by refusing to seriously race on Sunday.īut all 37 drivers showed up at their cars as scheduled. Perhaps they'd outright boycott Talladega Superspeedway. (AP) - As the stars of NASCAR raged over safety concerns with the new car, rumors swirled the drivers would organize some sort of protest at one of the most dangerous tracks on the circuit.
