"That hurt": When Chase Elliott shared friendly banter with crew chief Alan Gustafson over him bringing back the 'stache

In a lighthearted moment during a 2023 fan Q&A session, Chase Elliott and his crew chief, Alan Gustafson, shared some playful banter surrounding the former's "moustache era," which became a popular talking point among fans. When asked if Elliott should bring back the moustache for the upcoming season, Gustafson’s brief hesitation sparked a humorous exchange that quickly became the highlight of the conversation.

Elliott, known for his sense of humor, playfully took Gustafson’s pause as a sign that his former facial hair style wasn’t exactly a favorite of his. However, Gustafson quickly clarified that his brief hesitation wasn’t due to any negative opinion of Elliott’s moustache, but rather his careful consideration of how to best respond to the fan's question. The interaction went like this:

"Should I bring back the 'stache era for 2023?" asked Chase Elliott while reading off the question card.

"umm...", thought Gustafson.

"Didn't love the 'stache! The hesitation says it all. That Hurt", declared Elliott.

The following Tiktok clip highlights the entire conversation:

View on TikTok

Alan Gustafson further clarified that he liked the moustache as it made him look "picturesque." He complimented Elliott for his boldness to carry different looks, commended him for "changing it up," and said it was always a good thing.

Alan Gustafson (L) and Chase Elliot (R) at the Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 400 - Source: Imagn

The interaction portrayed the great working relationship between Elliot and his crew chief. Gustafson's response further added to the same sentiment.

This interaction happened before the 2023 season. Chase Elliott's 2023 NASCAR season was a challenging one. Injuries, a suspension, and a winless streak led to his first missed playoffs and a career-worst 17th-place finish in the standings. Despite these setbacks, he consistently delivered top-10 finishes, showcasing his resilience and earning him the Most Popular Driver Award for the sixth consecutive year.

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Chase Elliott called Alan Gustafson biggest source of support after snapping winless streak

Chase Elliott opened up about how important his crew chief, Alan Gustafson, was in helping him break his winless streak in NASCAR in the 2023 season. After struggling for several races without a victory, Elliott credited Gustafson as his biggest source of support. When asked by a journalist in April 2024 as to who was the reason for his comeback, he responded:

"I think really that starts with Alan and the people that ultimately have a role in how fast we go on the weekend sitting in our little meeting room on Mondays, the pit crew guys that work at the shop throughout the week, too"

He explained that Gustafson's constant encouragement and belief in him played a crucial role in boosting his confidence and pushing him to keep working hard. The bond between the two has been vital, especially during difficult times when results weren’t going their way.