'Whatever makes sense,' Chase Elliott reveals one condition under which he will back in his car

NASCAR champion Chase Elliott gave a light-hearted look at his off-track driving strategy ahead of the upcoming race weekend. He weighed in on the most polarizing debate in the automotive world: whether you should pull into a parking spot nose-first or back in.

For a guy who spends his weekends navigating four-wide traffic at 200 miles per hour, his approach to the local grocery store parking lot is surprisingly calculated.

This parking lot revelation matters because it highlights the everyday decision-making of one of the sport’s most popular drivers. We are talking about a daily dilemma that divides families, ends friendships, and causes countless traffic jams at the local mall. To back in or to pull in?

For a Cup Series champion who relies on split-second reaction times and spatial awareness, you would assume there is a rigid, hyper-efficient method to his madness. Instead, his strategy is to adapt to the equipment at hand.

1. What Was Said?

During a recent conversation with broadcaster Brad Gillie, Elliott explained that his parking preference entirely depends on the size of the vehicle he is driving that day. The news surfaced when Gillie pressed the Hendrick Motorsports star on whether he has a set preference for throwing the car in reverse every time he finds a spot. “If I’m in a truck, I would be backing in every time,” Elliott revealed during the exchange. “It’s way easier to back in.” Gillie, clearly representing the faction of society that despises waiting for reverse-parkers, challenged the driver. He pointed out the inevitable awkwardness of stopping traffic behind you while you line up the perfect reverse entry. But the NASCAR star was quick to defend his position with the kind of logistical breakdown you would expect from a seasoned veteran. “But also, you are gonna stop traffic anyway,” Elliott countered. “Because if you are in a big truck and you have to make like a four-point turn to get it in the slot because you are pulling in, you stopped it probably longer.” For Elliott, backing a truck in is simply a matter of geometric efficiency. However, Gillie remained unconvinced, stating that he thinks “it is crazy for anyone to back into a spot.”

2. Trading the Parking Lot for the Flight Line

Of course, the precision Elliott applies to his parking strategy is just a fraction of the focus he needs for his actual day job. That same appreciation for mechanics, spatial awareness, and efficiency was on full display recently when he traded his civilian vehicles for something a bit more advanced. While the NASCAR world continues to debate the merits of backing into a parking space, Elliott has been busy focusing on a much larger mission. He recently kicked off the 2026 Mission 600 with a visit to the Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort in South Carolina. There, the driver got an up-close look at the world’s first supersonic, stealth fighter capable of Short Takeoff and Vertical Landing—the legendary F-35B. During the visit, which serves as a prelude to Charlotte Motor Speedway’s patriotic Memorial Day Weekend salute, Elliott toured the flight line and witnessed a Level 2 aerial demonstration. He even participated in a hands-on demonstration of loading inert ordnance onto the jets. For a guy who just broke down the mechanics of a four-point turn in a pickup truck, watching the Marines operate these elite machines resonated deeply. “Having lived the NASCAR world for so many years, it’s so much a team effort and a team sport,” Elliott observed. “The drivers are nothing without their teams, and that’s the truth.”

3. The Ultimate Display of Teamwork

Whether you are navigating a crowded parking lot, turning wrenches on a stock car, or prepping an F-35 for flight, execution is everything. Elliott was quick to draw parallels between his Hendrick Motorsports pit crew and the men and women maintaining the Marine Corps’ cutting-edge aircraft. “Coming here today and watching what goes on the flight line right before one of these F-35s get ready to go, I see very much the same type of teamwork that the teams have here—and also a lot of trust,” he explained. “I’m putting a lot of trust in my crew to make sure all the bolts are tight before we go out there and push those cars to the limit, much like the pilots do for their crews.” Elliott even had the chance to climb into the cockpit of an F-18 simulator to test his own maneuverability and dogfighting skills. It was a fitting experience for a driver preparing for the grueling 600-mile endurance test that awaits him in Charlotte. Colonel Michael Cassidy, the commanding officer of MAG-31, noted that visits like this are crucial for highlighting the 18- to 21-year-old maintainers who keep the machines in the air. As the NASCAR schedule marches on, Elliott will soon trade the F-18 simulators and rental cars for his No. 9 Chevrolet. The Coca-Cola 600 is right around the corner, bringing with it one of the most physically and mentally demanding races of the entire motorsports calendar. It remains to be seen how Elliott will fare in the marathon event.

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