Star Hendrick Motorsports driver Chase Elliott recently discussed the challenges his #9 Chevy team has faced during their ongoing winless streak. Having not visited victory lane in over a year since his last Cup Series win in Texas, Elliott reflected on the team’s failure to meet expectations but emphasized the important lessons learned during this period.
Before his skiing accident in early 2023, Elliott was not just a consistent race winner but also a favorite for the championship each year after his first win in 2018. However, since that remarkable victory, the #9 Hendrick Motorsports team has struggled to find similar success, managing only one points-paying win since early 2023 at Texas Motor Speedway.
As he prepares to compete at Talladega Superspeedway while facing a daunting 36-race winless streak, Chase Elliott expressed how the team has been handling the lack of recent successes. He stated that the #9 team is committed to learning from their experiences, taking lessons from each weekend regardless of the outcomes. Elliott shared, “We’re learning from where we’re at and trying to improve every race.”
The 2020 Cup champion expressed confidence in his crew chief Alan Gustafson and the overall capabilities of the #9 team, noting that while they have demonstrated speed, they have yet to reach the high bar set by a championship-winning organization. Competing alongside teammates like William Byron and Kyle Larson, who consistently display race-winning potential, Elliott and Alex Bowman have struggled to maintain the same competitiveness at the front of the pack. So far, Elliott has led the fewest laps among all four Hendrick Motorsports drivers, totaling only 44 laps led this season.
In addition to his Texas victory, Elliott found success in other formats, winning an Xfinity race at Charlotte and the Clash at Bowman Gray. He also exhibited race-winning speed during the final rounds of the 2024 playoff season, showing that he is still a formidable competitor.
As the race weekend approaches at Talladega Superspeedway, Chase Elliott shared his evolution in mindset, stating he has moved past superstitions surrounding race day. He once held several race-day beliefs, but now follows a more methodical approach to preparation, emphasizing the importance of thoroughness. Ahead of the Jack Link’s 500, scheduled for Sunday, April 27, he remarked that staying at the forefront of the pack and avoiding collisions would be crucial for success.
With an aim to secure his third Talladega victory, Chase Elliott will start 30th on the grid, and his determination to end the winless streak adds to the intense excitement surrounding this weekend’s race.
