For 5 consecutive seasons between 2018 and 2022, Chase Elliott gained a number of races yearly and racked up 18 Cup Collection wins. However within the three years since, NASCAR’s Most Well-liked Driver has solely added a single win to that complete
Regardless of this, it is laborious to say Elliott has fallen off as he ended the 2024 season with the very best common end of any full-time driver within the area. He is began 2025 off strong as properly and sits fourth within the standings — the best of any winless driver. And that is the confounding factor in regards to the second-generation racer. He’s continually close to the entrance, however it’s turn into more and more uncommon to see him go to Victory Lane.
Chase Elliott, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Photograph by: Jared C. Tilton/Getty Pictures
His solely victory within the final 80 begins got here in a high-attrition race at Texas Motor Speedway in April of final yr. He was working second to Denny Hamlin on a late-race restart, however a useful push from Ross Chastain allowed him to nostril forward simply as a warning flew for a mid-pack crash. That put Elliott within the lead for the restart that adopted, permitting him to carry off Hamlin who spun wildly into the surface wall whereas trying to carry the surface line by way of Turns 3 and 4. Elliott then battled Chastain on the ultimate restart, retaining him at bay and capturing the checkered flag.
This weekend, Elliott returns to the location of his most up-to-date victory with a recent gold paint scheme, celebrating 100 years of sponsor NAPA. When Elliott gained at Texas, he snapped a 42-race winless streak. He returns to the difficult intermediate observe going through the same state of affairs. Whilst he celebrated that win final April, Elliott appeared to comprehend it wasn’t the start of a sudden turnaround.
“I nonetheless suppose now we have a number of work to do, for positive,” Elliott stated within the winner’s press convention. “Loads of issues went our method at the moment, I’m not naïve to that, for positive as properly. You need to be within the combine. You bought to be up entrance to even have issues go your method. We have been shut sufficient to do this. We nonetheless need to be higher. I feel now we have room for enchancment. Simply happy with the best way every part labored out. It’s much more enjoyable if you’re combating for wins and up entrance battling, whether or not it goes your method or doesn’t go your method. Simply to have a shot is pleasant.”
Chase Elliott gold paint scheme for Texas 2025
However what’s the lacking piece? Primarily based on Elliott’s feedback lately, the automotive itself appears to be a part of it. Like a number of different high drivers from the tip of the Gen-6 period, they’ve struggled to regulate to this Subsequent-Gen automobile and the totally different model of driving it requires.
The championship format does not assist both. Elliott appears to be the king of consistency. Together with that series-leading common end of 11.7 from final yr, the 2020 NASCAR Cup Collection champion has simply 5 DNFs within the final 75 races (going again to the beginning of 2023) with none thus far this yr. Nevertheless, working properly does not result in a Championship 4 look. Even essentially the most constant drivers should exit and win races and the No. 9 crew hasn’t been ready to do this. However hey, possibly historical past will repeat itself at Texas on Sunday…
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