Chase Elliott Advances Despite Struggles at Bristol Motor Speedway

Chase Elliott faced significant challenges at the Bristol Motor Speedway on Saturday, finishing in 38th place after a wreck. Despite this disappointing result, he successfully advanced to the Round of 12 in the NASCAR Cup playoffs. The outcome was largely due to his strong performance in the regular season, which allowed him to carry sufficient playoff points into this crucial stage.

USA Network analyst Steve Letarte expressed confidence in Elliott’s abilities as he moves forward. “We talk all season about how you perform in the regular season, how many points you score, and that’s what happened to Chase Elliott,” Letarte stated during the NASCAR Inside The Race post-race show. He highlighted that Elliott’s advancement was secured not by his performance at Bristol, but rather by his consistent efforts throughout the season.

Letarte noted that while Elliott’s finishing positions—including a 17th at Darlington and a third at Gateway—may not have been stellar, they were sufficient to keep him in contention. “He advanced tonight not because of Bristol, but because of regular-season effort, the playoff points he brought into the playoffs,” Letarte added.

Elliott’s current situation mirrors his path in 2020 when he claimed his first and only Cup championship. At that point, he also faced adversity after a poor race at Bristol, yet he rallied back to secure three wins in the final five races of the playoffs. Currently, Elliott is positioned seventh in the standings, 21 points behind the leader, Denny Hamlin, while also being just seven points above the cutoff line for the Round of 8.

As the NASCAR playoffs progress, Elliott heads to New Hampshire, where he will need to perform well. Although Loudon has historically been challenging for him—he has yet to win there—he has garnered two top-five and three top-10 finishes in 11 starts. Kansas, another venue in the Round of 12, has been more favorable for Elliott, where he boasts one win and 12 top-10 finishes over 19 starts. The final race in this round at the Charlotte Roval could be his best opportunity, as he has achieved two wins and five top-10 finishes in seven starts there.

Letarte provided insights into the competitive landscape, noting that other drivers from Hendrick Motorsports appear to be struggling, which may benefit Elliott. “I always had the 5 [Kyle Larson] and the 24 [William Byron] much faster than [Elliott], but now I think they’re all behind the Toyotas at the moment,” he observed. This observation is significant, considering that Toyota drivers have dominated the playoffs thus far, with notable wins from Chase Briscoe, Denny Hamlin, and Christopher Bell at various tracks.

Letarte concluded with a balanced assessment of Elliott’s position. “The glass half full is the [No.] 9 [car] has run the same speed as his teammates. The glass half empty is his teammates aren’t as fast as they need to be.” As Elliott prepares for the upcoming races, the team at Hendrick Motorsports is committed to enhancing their performance, which could be pivotal for Elliott’s playoff journey.

As the Round of 12 unfolds, all eyes will be on Elliott to see if he can turn his season around and make a significant run for another championship.