That is the very best that Chase Elliott, Alan Gustafson and the Hendrick Motorsports group have ever appeared to start out a NASAR Cup Collection season and that makes them a really critical risk within the new Chase for the Championship.
Positive, Elliott has led the standings early in a season by means of his trademark consistency and penchant for ending races and having good factors day however now he’s gained twice over the primary 11 races.
That’s the earliest he has reached a number of wins, by the best way, and now sits third within the championship standings. It’s the very best of each worlds relating to what makes a terrific Cup Collection contender.
“I believe having a win early at Martinsville, and I mentioned it then … it isn’t like, ‘oh, hey, the stress is off, we’ve got a win.’ It is, ‘man, we’ve got lots longer time period to construct on that.’ That is genuinely the place my thoughts was at.”
There are such a lot of parallels from Elliott to his direct supervisor, Hendrick Motorsports vice chairman and four-time champion Jeff Gordon, however it’s largely in how they put collectively seasons.
Even when Gordon wasn’t successful in bulk, particularly when paired with Gustafson, the No. 24 nonetheless continuously contended for championships on pure consistency. However Gordon can even let you know that the consistency with out successful a number of races is one thing that gnawed at him in these seasons.
“Consistency helps since you’re not making an attempt to reinvent the wheel,” Gordon mentioned. “You are fine-tuning. You are, like, ‘hey, we’re good however we should be higher.’ We’d need to hold working in sure areas as a result of we should be doing one thing proper.
“At the very least the consistency retains you in sort of a movement and a path that I believe you may construct on and solely get higher. However in the event you do not win each infrequently, like I’ve all the time mentioned, in the event you do not win each eight to 10 races, man, simply the arduous work drains you, the entire group, driver, group, everyone, pit crew.
“You bought to have these victories.”
However Gordon additionally mentioned, if not successful races, they should be successful ‘mini-races’ on pit street or in consistency, all of the little ways in which Elliott and Gustafson have continued to be within the combine each season.
“It might be not only a win of a race, however these race wins are so crucial I believe to a group’s season and success as a result of that builds the arrogance to a different stage that not solely are we on target, however we’re able to successful all of it,” Gordon mentioned.
“If you happen to win on a constant foundation, then once more, that is what provides to a championship-caliber group.”
Not solely does Gustafson assume this can be a championship stage group this season, however the crew chief of over twenty years additionally thinks Elliott may win this title ranging from sixteenth with 10 races left to go … not that it’s going to really come all the way down to that.
In fact, he thinks anybody may realistically win too, however he does like his possibilities sitting at third proper now.
“Okay. Do the mathematics, proper,” Gustafson mentioned. “After 10 (races) Tyler Reddick had over a 100-point lead. Theoretically, in the event you repeat these races, he may begin sixteenth and win the championship, proper? So I believe something is feasible.
“I do assume, look, everyone needs as many factors as you will get. Actually, the very best groups are going to place themselves in direction of the highest. I am not sleeping on anyone. I imply, anyone can determine one thing out and get sizzling. I do not assume 100 factors makes anyone protected.”
And maybe essentially the most telling factor about the place the Hendrick Motorsports No. 9 is true now could be that they’ve married two wins with consistency whereas it looks like all of Chevrolet continues to be making an attempt to maximise their new physique model for this season.
In different phrases, this isn’t the very best Hendrick Motorsports will probably be all yr both, and Elliott was fast to credit score ‘the fellows on the store’ for getting them nearer every week.
“I imply, I believe it is all the time concerning the effort and the conversations that go on throughout the week and throughout the weeks main as much as the races and the way that work is put into our race vehicles on the store,” Elliott mentioned. “These races are definitely — sure, they’re gained on the racetrack and the way effectively you execute and all these issues, however you certain are hedging your wager lots by the way you put together and what your automobile is like earlier than it hundreds up within the truck.
“I am unable to emphasize that sufficient. I perceive that. I do not know that lots of people perceive simply how necessary that’s to the general efficiency, however it’s a enormous piece. Actually lucky and happy with everyone at Hendrick Motorsports for his or her continued efforts to simply dig in.
“We’ve got a gritty group again dwelling that they simply do not take no for a solution. They will simply work and work and work. No matter has obtained to be executed, get executed. Friday, Saturday, midnight, 2:00, no matter. They need to win, and the boss needs to win, and we’ll do no matter we obtained to do to strive our greatest for that.”
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