Chase Elliott, a prominent figure in the NASCAR world and a driver for Hendrick Motorsports, faces mounting criticism after appearing in a recent Prime Video advertisement promoting its 2025 Cup Series coverage. The ad, which was released just days ago, has generated considerable backlash among fans, sparking doubts about Elliott’s commitment to racing and placing his title as NASCAR’s Most Popular Driver in jeopardy.
In the new promotion, Chase Elliott makes a brief cameo as Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Steve Letarte travel to famous tracks that will be featured on Prime Video’s schedule. With a confident tone, Elliott asks, “Did someone say road course?”—a nod to his earlier reputation as a road course specialist prior to the introduction of NASCAR’s Next Gen car. However, many viewers quickly pointed out that the driver’s recent performances have failed to match his past dominance in these events.
Fan reaction on social media has been swift and harsh.
“The 9 team fell off the map,”
one disgruntled user posted on X, echoing the sentiment of several others questioning Elliott’s current form. Another comment noted,
“Amazon Prime sponsors him. So there’s that,”
underlining a sense of skepticism regarding Elliott’s collaboration with the streaming giant. This partnership was announced earlier this year, following the exit of Hooters as a sponsor, and although it provided financial relief for Hendrick Motorsports, discontent among fans has lingered.
Some longtime supporters have been particularly vocal about what they perceive as a lack of passion.
“I’ve been a Chase fan since he took over for Gordon, but it has felt like his heart just isn’t in it anymore. Like he got his championship and isn’t driven to do anything,”
another fan admitted. The reluctance of Chase Elliott to participate more eagerly in fan engagement opportunities, such as events like NASCAR: Full Speed, has only fueled the controversy and deepened the divide between the driver and parts of his fanbase.
Others went so far as to question Elliott’s claim as a road course ace, citing his last victory at a road course, which came at Road America in 2021. Despite several top-five finishes since then, he has not secured a win in such races for years. Comparisons were made to Denny Hamlin’s experience at superspeedways, highlighting a shared struggle among top drivers to meet past standards. The pointed critique from fans illustrates just how closely Chase Elliott is being scrutinized at this stage of his career.
The growing pressure on Chase Elliott comes at a critical moment, as emerging talents like Kyle Larson and Ryan Blaney pose a genuine threat to his “Most Popular Driver” streak. If Elliott is to retain his standing and reconnect with a frustrated fanbase, noticeable improvement on the track and more genuine engagement with supporters will be essential. What happens next for one of NASCAR’s most recognized figures will undoubtedly be watched closely, as the season progresses and expectations remain high.
