Chase Elliott: ‘Nothing to be fixed’ between Kyle Larson and him

MARTINSVILLE, Va. — Chase Elliott says nothing needs to be fixed between Kyle Larson and him after their contact at the end of last weekend’s race at Watkins Glen International.

Elliott was upset after the race but didn’t publicly criticize Larson, who moved Elliott up the track on the final restart to claim the lead and take the win. Elliott talked to car owner Rick Hendrick and team executive Jeff Gordon on pit road after the race. 

Lip readers suggested that Elliott told Hendrick and Gordon that the matter couldn’t be fixed. Elliott addressed that Wednesday during a break in testing at Martinsville Speedway.

“I would just say that there’s nothing to be fixed,” Elliott said. “Really at the end of the day, when you look at the reality of the situation … we finished fourth and we weren’t good enough to win. That’s really what it comes down, just need to be faster, need to do a better job finishing off the races. For me, I don’t see where there’s anything that needs to be fixed.”

Larson said Monday during a break in testing at Martinsville that he should have raced Elliott with “more respect” at the end of the race.

Elliott said: “That’s his opinion and, look, he’s entitled to that. For me, I’m a pretty realistic person as it pertains to what is and what isn’t. Reality is we finished fourth on Sunday and need to be better, need to be faster, needed to have a better restart there at the end of the race to get the job done. 

“That’s really what it comes down to. For us, that’s where my focus is and what I want to do better. I’m excited about these next 11 weeks and the opportunity that lies ahead for us as a team.

“I feel like our group is special. I’ve told you guys that for years. We’ve just got to make sure that we’re