Chase Elliott’s Dover race performance drew passionate praise and scrutiny from NASCAR insider Jordan Bianchi, who called it the team‘s best showing this year despite a sixth-place result for Hendrick Motorsports. Competing from pole position on Sunday, Elliott led laps and secured his first stage win of the season, only for a crew chief strategy call and a midrace rain delay to alter his final outcome.
Elliott Moves Up with Strong Dover Showing
Bianchi analyzed Elliott’s efforts during the weekend, highlighting how the #9 crew consistently maintained speed and optimism from start to finish. On The Teardown podcast, Bianchi pointed out that, even with the official result not reflecting a victory, Elliott’s on-track strength marked a clear shift for the team.
“I think this was a phenomenal race for Chase Elliott. The result is going to say sixth, but this was to me and I understand they won at Atlanta. This was a great performance and I think their best performance of the year. They were consistently fast throughout the entire race. They won a stage today, by the way, which is the first time they’ve done that all year.”
“They did the things today that we have talked about them not doing, leading a bunch of laps, winning a stage, putting themselves in position. This wasn’t a team that was just grinding out another top 10. This was a team that was in the mix and was a team to beat today,” Bianchi said. —Jordan Bianchi, NASCAR Insider
Bianchi acknowledged that the racing strategy, rather than the car’s performance, kept Elliott from securing a better finish. He stressed that leading a stage and remaining a factor until the late stages meant more than just the numerical result.
Chase Elliott now holds the best average finish among drivers this season, never falling outside the top 20 and boasting six top-five finishes, plus a victory at Atlanta. Bianchi believes this consistency demonstrates the Hendrick Motorsports team’s progress, with Elliott’s results indicating a turning point after earlier challenges.
Strategy Decisions Under the Microscope
The turning point at Dover traced back to a call made by crew chief Alan Gustafson as the race unfolded. Bianchi made it clear on the podcast that he disapproved of the specific tire strategy, which he argued didn’t reflect the day’s competitive nature or track conditions, even as tire wear was less influential than at other circuits.
“I didn’t like the call. It didn’t seem like tire wear today was a huge factor. Yeah, the tires gave away after a certain time and you saw a little bit of corroding everywhere, but we saw drivers in older tires be able to do things and I didn’t like that call then. I like the idea of staying out being aggressive and holding your line,” he described. —Jordan Bianchi, NASCAR Insider
Bianchi noted that Gustafson’s choices frequently draw criticism from fans harshly reacting to any outcome short of victory. According to the discussion, clean air was of greater benefit at Dover, and a more aggressive line might have preserved Elliott’s shot at the win. The podcast‘s co-host agreed that tire strategy was not central to the result, reinforcing that the #9 car was undeniably one of the fastest on the track at the time.
What Elliott’s Performance Means Moving Forward
This Dover result, though officially a sixth-place finish, suggests a major leap forward for Elliott and his crew. The stage win, leadership on the track, and strategic presence signaled that the Hendrick Motorsports driver is returning to top form. With persistent top-twenty results and a newfound ability to control stages, Elliott has reasserted himself as a leading contender this NASCAR season.
If consistency remains at this level, and strategic decisions align with the team’s strengths in future races, Elliott is poised to build on this success, potentially marking him as a persistent threat at each track, especially with challenging conditions like those seen at Dover. The intense scrutiny over team calls also sets the stage for evolving strategies as the season unfolds.
