The NASCAR community, Cup Series champion Chase Elliott has announced he will not participate in NASCAR’s scheduled Pride Night festivities, making his stance on the matter crystal clear. Elliott stated that his decision stems from a belief that the focus of race events should remain solely on the sport of stock car racing—not on what he referred to as “woke” social initiatives.
The announcement came ahead of an upcoming NASCAR event where Pride Night was set to highlight support for the LGBTQ+ community. Elliott expressed that while he respects everyone’s right to live freely, he does not agree with blending social or political causes into race weekends. “On the track,” he said, “the focus should be on stock cars, not agendas.”
His comments quickly ignited a wave of reactions. Supporters praised his courage to speak out, saying professional athletes shouldn’t be pressured to endorse causes that don’t align with their personal views. Critics, however, argued that his stance is dismissive of efforts to make the sport more inclusive for marginalized communities.
Elliott, one of NASCAR’s most popular drivers, emphasized that his decision was not meant as an attack on anyone personally, but rather a call to keep racing about racing.
NASCAR has yet to officially respond, though the league has actively supported diversity and inclusion initiatives in recent years. As the story unfolds, Elliott’s remarks are likely to fuel broader conversations about the role of social issues in professional sports.
