Chase Elliott discusses playoff points struggle in NASCAR season as he prepares at Nashville Superspeedway, reflecting on his current performance and goals for the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series. The Hendrick Motorsports driver, who is a former champion, shared insights on his playoff prospects and thoughts on new changes within the sport during a recent media event.
Elliott Aims Higher Despite Competitive Rankings
Chase Elliott, representing Hendrick Motorsports, addressed reporters ahead of the upcoming race at Nashville Superspeedway, expressing his perspectives on not having secured playoff points so far this season. Elliott, who clinched a non-points win at Bowman Gray Stadium earlier in the year, has shown consistent results but is still searching for a crucial race victory to solidify his playoff status. His previous win was at Texas Motor Speedway on April 15, 2024, and since then, he has experienced a winless run.
Despite ranking fourth in the Cup Series with 415 points, Elliott voiced his aspirations to move beyond just qualifying for the playoffs and become a front-runner in the hunt for playoff points. As he shared in a media interview:
“Certainly better to be in that position than on the other side of the fence, no doubt. But I’d be lying if I said that was my top focus. It’s just not. I think that if you’re worried about barely getting into the playoffs, I think you have some work to do.” —Chase Elliott, Driver
“It really is kind of the best way I can think about that. And just to talk about my thought process, I want to be better than that. I want to be in the group of people of how many playoff points do you have, not just barely getting in. Our expectations and goals are above that, and we hope that we can achieve all of our goals,” he added. —Chase Elliott, Driver
Elliott’s 2025 campaign showcases seven top-ten and three top-five finishes in thirteen starts. However, his focus lies on achieving greater results to ensure a more secure and impactful playoff run, emphasizing that just making the field does not align with his ambitions for the season.
New Broadcasting Era: Elliott Praises NASCAR and Amazon Prime Partnership
The latest changes in NASCAR’s media landscape also drew Elliott’s attention, especially with the debut of Amazon Prime as a new broadcaster for the Cup Series. The Coca-Cola 600, held last weekend, became the first Cup race broadcast on the streaming platform, highlighting a significant shift in how fans engage with the sport. Elliott welcomed the partnership and spoke positively about the professionalism and investment shown by Amazon Prime’s crew:
“Yeah, it’s been really, really good, honestly. They’ve been a pleasure to work with so far, very professional, and you know obviously very established in the sports world as of late and and they’ve just done a good job investing in the right things in my opinion,” stated Chase Elliott [4:05 onwards]. —Chase Elliott, Driver
The Coca-Cola 600 launched a series of five NASCAR Cup Series races to be covered by Amazon Prime for the 2025 season, with the next event, Cracker Barrel 400, scheduled at Nashville Superspeedway. Upcoming races in the deal include the Firekeepers Casino 400, Viva Mexico 250, and The Great American Getaway 400 sponsored by VisitPA.com. Elliott acknowledged the potential for the new broadcaster to bring the sport to a broader audience and contribute positively to the ongoing evolution of Cup Series racing coverage.
Looking Forward to a Stronger Finish
With the remainder of the season underway, Elliott is determined to improve his performance, aiming for victories and playoff points as key milestones. While he sits comfortably within the top five of the Cup Series points, his comments highlight the mindset of a champion intent on not only qualifying but contending for the highest honors. As new partnerships like NASCAR’s collaboration with Amazon Prime reshape the fan experience, competition intensifies both on and off the track, setting the stage for a compelling drive toward the playoffs.
