For 5 consecutive seasons between 2018 and 2022, received a number of races yearly and racked up 18 Cup Sequence wins. However within the three years since, NASCAR’s Most Standard Driver has solely added a single win to that complete
Regardless of this, it is onerous to say Elliott has fallen off as he ended the 2024 season with one of the 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 always close to the entrance, but it surely’s turn into more and more uncommon to see him go to Victory Lane.
Chase Elliott, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Chase Elliott, Hendrick Motorsports ChevroletJared C. Tilton/Getty Photos
Jared C. Tilton/Getty Photos
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His solely victory within the final 80 begins got here in a in April of final yr. He was operating second to on a late-race restart, however a useful push from 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, holding him at bay and capturing the checkered flag.
This weekend, Elliott returns to the location of his most up-to-date victory with a contemporary gold paint scheme, celebrating 100 years of sponsor NAPA. When Elliott received at Texas, he snapped a 42-race winless streak. He returns to the difficult intermediate monitor dealing with an identical state of affairs. Whilst he celebrated that win final April, Elliott appeared to realize it wasn’t the start of a sudden turnaround.
“I nonetheless assume we have now quite a lot of work to do, for certain,” Elliott mentioned within the winner’s press convention. “Plenty of issues went our manner in the present day, I’m not naïve to that, for certain as properly. It’s a must to be within the combine. You bought to be up entrance to even have issues go your manner. We had been shut sufficient to try this. We nonetheless need to be higher. I believe we have now room for enchancment. Simply happy with the best way every thing labored out. It’s much more enjoyable once you’re preventing for wins and up entrance battling, whether or not it goes your manner or doesn’t go your manner. Simply to have a shot is gratifying.”
Chase Elliott gold paint scheme for Texas 2025
Chase Elliott gold paint scheme for Texas 2025Motorsport.com
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However what’s the lacking piece? Based mostly on Elliott’s feedback in recent times, the automobile itself appears to be a part of it. Like a number of different prime drivers from the top of the Gen-6 period, they’ve struggled to regulate to this Subsequent-Gen automobile and the completely different type of driving it requires.
The championship format would 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 Sequence champion has simply 5 DNFs within the final 75 races (going again to the beginning of 2023) with none up to now this yr. Nonetheless, operating properly would not result in a Championship 4 look. Even probably the most constant drivers must exit and win races and the No. 9 workforce hasn’t been in a position to try this. However hey, possibly historical past will repeat itself at Texas on Sunday…
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