The Bobby Bones Show – Episode #532: Chase Elliott on Racing, Music, and Live Music Tragedies

Date: August 27, 2025
Host: Bobby Bones, with Eddie, Curly, and Maya
Guest: Chase Elliott (NASCAR driver)
Feature Segment: Bobby & Eddie discuss Top 10 Live Music Tragedies

Episode Overview

This episode of The Bobby Bones Show features an in-depth conversation with NASCAR star Chase Elliott, followed by an emotional and candid countdown of the top 10 live music tragedies with Bobby and Eddie. The show dives into Chase’s racing career, his fandom as a Georgia Bulldog, music preferences, the specifics of NASCAR culture, and the unique pressures of his sport. The second half provides reflections on some of the darkest moments in live music history, looking at event safety and the human stories behind the headlines.

Interview with Chase Elliott

Chase’s Racing Persona and Public Recognition

• Chase on Being Recognized ([03:16]):
  • Talks about being known both as "Chase Elliott" and his cameo character "Chase Race Lot" from Cars 3.
  • “You would actually be surprised. It happens. … Kids see me as that [from the movie] but certainly not your normal, you know, fans at the track.” — Chase Elliott [03:22]
• Discusses public anonymity due to wearing a helmet and how attire/sponsorship affects recognition.
  • “We are walking billboards at all times. So yeah… odds are I’m probably, you know, sponsored by something… even at home watching a movie.” — Chase Elliott [05:25]

Sports Fandom and Georgia Bulldogs

• On being a passionate Georgia Bulldogs fan, balancing pride with humility.
  • “I spent enough years being a Georgia fan in an area that had a lot of Alabama fans... I lived that. And I just don’t want to be that person.” — Chase Elliott [06:55]
• Recalls Mark Richt and praises Kirby Smart for “flipping the switch” at Georgia ([08:19]).
• Insight into SEC fan culture, comparing Georgia and Alabama fans.

Inside NASCAR: Driver Number, Racing Culture, and Pre-Race Prep

• How NASCAR Numbers Work ([09:42]):
  • Team owns the numbers, not drivers; Chase started with 24 (Jeff Gordon’s car), later switched to family-favorite number 9.
  • “It just kind of happened. The stars aligned up really perfect for me to end up with the nine that I run now.” — Chase Elliott [10:54]
  • Earnhardt Jr. played a key role in prompting the switch ([12:13]): “If you’re going to make this change… you need to speak up about this right now.”
• Pre-Race Rituals – Staying Calm over Fired Up ([14:10]):
  • “For me, I like to be more on the downside… think and be clear-minded… more of a mind game than anything else.” — Chase Elliott

Racing, Visualization, and Track Personality

• Tracks look similar but each has unique characteristics (bumps, lanes, rhythms) ([18:38]).
  • “Even if they might look the same, they're all very different… they all have their own character.” — Chase Elliott [18:44]

Family in Racing and Spotter Dynamics

• His cousin is his spotter; discusses working with family, balancing heated in-race moments with their outside relationship ([21:17]):
  • “I might cuss him up and down, you know, during the race or whatever, but it’s always easy to turn that off… he’s family and always will be.”

Injuries, Safety, and Concussion Protocol

• NASCAR takes concussion protocols seriously ([22:43]):
  • “You go through protocol of like, concussion testing… they make you set your baseline so… after a wreck… you pass it in a similar way.”
• Jokes about “cheating” on baseline tests ([23:28]):
  • “People do that… but you’re just hurting yourself.” — Chase Elliott

Music Taste, Concerts, and Mt. Rushmore

• Chase’s Music Mt. Rushmore ([25:21]):
  • Eric Church (“the GOAT”), Tyler Childers, Muscadine Bloodline, Megan Moroney.
  • “I dive in pretty deep on that stuff…” — Chase Elliott [27:10]
  • Favorite non-country artist: the Eagles, classic rock side.
• If stuck with one artist on a road trip:
  • “Eric Church… you're listening to just a legend that you'll talk about for years.” [28:19]
• Best Concert:
  • Eric Church at Red Rocks ([29:03])

The Bristol Night Race & Racing Etiquette

• Describes the unique energy of Bristol Speedway ([29:35]):
  • “It really gives people a true appreciation… seeing it up close in a stadium-like environment. It's special.”
• Discusses how NASCAR “playoffs” work ([30:56])
• On F1 and motorsports movies ([31:16]):
  • Expresses purist views—NASCAR and F1 are different worlds.

The Toll on Body & Driver Persona Possibilities

• Hydration and weight loss during a race: Can lose 5–8 lbs on a hot weekend ([34:32]).
• "Heel turn" persona: jokes about flipping the script and showing up as the villain ([35:30]):
  • “Maybe one day… just show up and drive by, flip off Austin Dillon, just fly by… Go to the dark side.” — Chase Elliott [35:42]

"Mean" Drivers and Racing Disrespect

• “Some guys just choose to race like… people cut you off on the highway or just do dumb stuff… It’s just a certain level of racing etiquette.” — Chase Elliott [36:01]

Personal Joy as a Fan

• Still gets excited for new Georgia merch ([37:15]):
  • “I'm like a… kid in a candy store… I don't think you ever grow out of that when you're a fan of something.” — Chase Elliott

[Timestamps – Chase Elliott Interview Highlights]

• [03:08] – “Cars 3” cameo & fan recognition stories
• [06:03] – Georgia Bulldogs fandom
• [09:42] – NASCAR driver number system explained
• [14:10] – Pre-race mindset and rituals
• [18:38] – Track visualization
• [21:17] – Working with his cousin as spotter
• [22:43] – NASCAR injury and concussion protocols
• [25:21] – Music Mount Rushmore
• [29:35] – Bristol race and importance
• [34:32] – Physical toll of racing
• [35:30] – Turning heel and driver personalities
• [36:01] – Etiquette and “mean” drivers

Bobby & Eddie’s Top 10 Live Music Tragedies

A thoughtful, emotional exploration of famous events where live music turned tragic. Many events are referenced in documentaries, and their impact led to changes in event safety standards.

List & Discussion Highlights (with segment start times)

• [41:13] Segment Begins: "When the Music Turned Deadly"
• #10: AstroWorld Festival (2021, Houston TX) ([41:53])
  • Crowd surge at Travis Scott show, 10 dead, 100s injured.
  • Key factors: poor staffing, crowd flow, security failures, and delayed response.
  • “It wasn’t one thing. There were like, nine things that went wrong.” — Bobby [44:00]
• #9: The Who Concert (1979, Cincinnati) ([45:27])
  • Stampede at Riverfront Coliseum, 11 trampled.
  • Communication and staffing breakdown.
• #8: Altamont Free Concert (1969, N. California) ([46:36])
  • Murder of Meredith Hunter during Rolling Stones set, violence involving Hell’s Angels as security.
• #7: Woodstock ’99 ([47:52])
  • Overheated, overwhelmed crowd, widespread assaults, injuries, and violence—event blamed on greed.
• #6: Pearl Jam at Roskilde Festival (2000, Denmark) ([52:44])
  • Crowd crush during muddy Pearl Jam set, 9 died.
  • Band deeply affected, almost disbanded.
• #5: Sugarland Stage Collapse (Indiana State Fair, 2011) ([54:07])
  • Sudden wind toppled stage, 7 killed, 58 injured.
  • Led to new outdoor stage safety standards.
• #4: Route 91 Harvest Festival (2017, Las Vegas) ([57:29])
  • Mass shooting from hotel into festival; 58 killed, over 850 injured.
  • Personal connection—Bobby and band played the night before.
• #3: Bataclan Theater, Paris (2015) ([60:02])
  • ISIS terrorist attack during Eagles of Death Metal concert, 90 killed.
• #2: Manchester Arena Bombing (2017) ([61:55])
  • Ariana Grande show, suicide bomber, 22 killed.
• #1: Great White at The Station Nightclub (2003, Rhode Island) ([62:54])
  • Pyrotechnics ignited foam insulation, 100+ killed in minutes.
  • Led to changes in club fire code and pyrotechnics regulations.

Notable Discussion Points & Quotes

• On crowd safety:
  • “You don’t realize how vulnerable you are in a setting like that.” — Bobby [64:53]
• On event organization:
  • “It always goes back to inadequate staffing. And even the staff you do have, they’re not really being taught properly.” — Bobby [46:01]
• On Great White tragedy:
  • “There’s a fire. During their show. … The entire club was engulfed in flames under five minutes. Over 100 people died.” — Bobby [63:02]

Reflection and Takeaways

• Live music, meant to be joyful, can turn tragic with small organizational or safety failures.
• Many tragedies led to important changes in event safety protocols, structural standards, and crowd management practices.
• There is an underlying shared trauma and caution that remains in live event planning to this day.

Episode Notables & Memorable Moments

• Chase’s Humor: Willingness to turn “heel” for a day, WWE-style ([35:30])
• Personal Touch: Bobby revealing he’d played Route 91 the night before the mass shooting ([57:29])
• Music Fandom: Chase’s “kid in a candy store” excitement over new Georgia Bulldog gear ([37:15])
• Industry Insight: Behind-the-scenes of NASCAR family work relationships and the science of racing prep.

Tone and Style

• Conversational and insightful with moments of humor and gravity.
• Maintains a friendly, open vibe—Bobby allows guests and co-hosts to tell stories in their own words.
• Sensitive reflection during the tragedies segment—empathetic and thoughtful, acknowledging the real lives and lessons affected.

Episode Value

This episode is a blend of lighthearted multiple-choice NASCAR questions, sports fandom, and music talk, followed by a sobering, necessary look at event safety and the shared vulnerability of crowds. Listeners get to know Chase Elliott’s personality in-depth and revisit pivotal moments in live event history that changed the industry forever.

Recommended for:
NASCAR fans, music lovers, live event organizers, and anyone interested in the cultural intersections of sports, music, and society.