Chase Elliott threw the ceremonial first pitch at the MLB game between the Atlanta Braves and Toronto Blue Jays on September 6. Despite having surgery for a torn labrum in his right shoulder at the end of the 2023 season, Elliott seized the opportunity.
Elliott started the NASCAR playoffs on a high note, winning the Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 400 at Texas Motor Speedway.
As he goes to the first race of the playoffs—the Quaker State 400 available at Walmart at Atlanta Motor Speedway, a circuit where he won in 2022—Elliott ranks seventh in the driver standings.
Chase Elliott stated that he needed a thorough warm-up before his weekend race due to recent shoulder surgery. The Atlanta Braves broadcast a video demonstrating Elliott’s successful first pitch.
Fans were overjoyed to see NASCAR’s poster boy take to the baseball diamond, and their emotions were overwhelmingly favorable. A fan commented:
“That’s bad*ss!”
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Here are some more reactions from fans:
“Give that man a new jersey ” commented one fan.
“Pulled up in a Swanson uni….” noticed one fan.
“Looks thrilled to be there lol” one fan observed.
“What a guy!!” said another fan.
“Come on @Braves get this man a New Jersey,” a fan demanded.
Chase Elliott expressed his apprehensions ahead of the Atlanta race
Atlanta Motor Speedway experienced several alterations between 2021 and 2022, including increased banking in the turns to 24 degrees and 28 degrees overall, as well as a track width reduction from 55 to 40 feet.
These alterations have transformed the superspeedway into a drifting circuit similar to Daytona and Talladega, which are notorious for multi-vehicle pile-ups and unstable car control.
During a media session before the Atlanta race, Elliott commented, via Motorsport.com:
“The first round must be respected since it presents problems. That’s what happens when you have these short rounds every year; add another speedway, and you’ll have chaos. You keep generating this garbage, and that’s what you’ll get.
Hendrick Motorsports #9 driver will approach Atlanta this weekend on Sunday at 3:00 PM ET, with an average finish of 11.8 across 11 Cup starts, including one win, two top-5s, and seven top-10s.
His recent track performances include two top-10 finishes in the last five races, as well as one victory. In the Ambetter Health 400 in February 2024, he finished 15th after starting 28th. Chase Elliott has also secured three pole positions in Atlanta.
