“That Was My Fault”! Chase Elliott Takes Accountability for Violent Christopher Bell Michigan Wreck

2020 Cup champion Chase Elliott apologized to Christopher Bell for his involvement in the wild Michigan wreck.

“That Was My Fault”! Chase Elliott Takes Accountability for Violent Christopher Bell Michigan Wreck

Chrisopher Bell and Chase Elliott (Via IMAGO and SS via @nascar/X)

The NASCAR Cup Series race on Sunday ay Michigan witnessed one of the most violent wrecks of the 2026 season, that involved Christopher Bell and Chase Elliott. On lap 148, during an intense battle for P2 in the FireKeepers Casino 400, the No:9 Chevy lost its control and made contract with the No:20 Toyota racing beside him.

The JGR car slammed hard into the outside wall and suffered significant damage, while the Hendrick Motorsports’ Chevy also had damage to the front. Bel’s car even caught on fire and the impact had caused massive damage to the outside wall forcing NASCAT to Red Flag the race. After the race, the 2020 champion took all the blame and admitting it was his fault that led to the incident.

I feel okay. I just really, really hate that happened, first and foremost. You know, I want to apologize to Bill and the whole 20 team. That was my fault…I ran on the bottom, got loose, thought I was going to spin, and I had kind of committed to spinning out and just hoping I could spin, basically. And as soon as I started to commit to spinning out, it hooked right. And, unfortunately, he was out there.

Chase Elliott told Jeff Gluck.

This realization might be reason why, Chase Elliott immediately went to speak to Christopher Bell once he got out of the car. He asserted that he never meant to cause such a violent wreck, especially to someone that always been respectful with him on the track. If he hadn’t overcorrected the situation could’ve been avoided.

So, it was definitely a big one. Yeah, I knew that he kind of took the brunt of it, I felt like, in that. So, yeah, I definitely just hate it happened. Hate it happen to anybody, but certainly a guy who races me with a lot of respect. It was not intentional. I just stepped over the line and overcorrected.

Chase Elliott added.
RELATED
“We love you, KB!” Denny Hamlin Honors Kyle Busch After Milestone Win at Michigan

Chase Elliott reveals what he told Christopher Bell after the wreck

Later in the interview, the HMS racer was asked about the conversation he had with Bell soon after the crash. He re-iterated that it was severe crash for both Bell as well as for himself in the that moment, as no-one expected an incident at the time.

Chase Elliott and Christopher Bell
Chase Elliott and Christopher Bell (Via IMAGO)

Yeah, I mean, it was a huge hit. Huge hit for him, pretty big hit for me, too. So, I just knew that when it happened, that when you’re watching the wall come that quick, it’s going to be large. I knew he’d already hit the wall before I hit him.

Chase Elliott said.

Hence, he approached Bell before he was about to be moved to the infield care centre to apologize for his mistake. He wanted the JGR driver to know that it was never his intention to cause the massive wreck.

So those things happen fast, but I saw it happen. I knew it was big, so I just wanted to make sure he was all right and just tell him I’m so sorry that it’s not at all my intention for that to happen.

Chase Elliott added.

On his post-race interview JGR owner Joe Gibbs confirmed that Bell injured his wrist from the incident and in would be interesting to see how long it would take the racer to recover. It would be shame if this crash ends up being the thing that ruins the season for the No:20 driver.

Also Read: Dale Earnhardt Jr. Blames Carson Hocevar Over Wild Multi-Car Stage Two Wreck at Michigan