Chase Elliott faced a setback at Bristol Motor Speedway on Saturday night, watching his hopes hang in the balance after a rare DNF in the NASCAR Cup playoff elimination race. Despite crashing out with just under 200 laps remaining, Elliott’s position in the Chase Elliott Bristol NASCAR playoff drama was ultimately secured after other key events unfolded late in the race.
Elliott’s Bristol Exit Threatens Playoff Plans
The race at Bristol, the first elimination round in the playoffs, took a dramatic turn for Chase Elliott and his Hendrick Motorsports team after 311 hard-fought laps. Following a shuffle in the running order, Elliott attempted to return to the inside lane just as John Hunter Nemechek quickly closed the gap. The ensuing contact sent Elliott’s No. 9 Chevrolet into the outside wall, immediately ending his night. It was only the second time this season Elliott failed to finish a race, a frustration at such a pivotal moment in his title chase.
The risk was high for Elliott with Bristol marking the crucial cutoff for playoff advancement. While his point total provided a slim buffer, a win by any driver below the cut line could have ousted him from further contesting the title. Among those with a chance to disrupt the standings was none other than teammate Alex Bowman, who kept his own hopes alive deep into the race.
Relief After Rival Setbacks on the Track
Ultimately, Bowman could not capitalize, finishing behind, and a timely misfortune for Austin Cindric helped lock Elliott back in a relatively safer position. These developments unfolded while Elliott was still coming to terms with his playoff status after his crash. Exiting the infield care center, Elliott was unsure about where he stood in points and initially feared his playoff hopes were dashed.
Describing the incident from his perspective, Elliott said,
“The No. 22 [Joey Logano] got position on me. I thought I was doing the smart thing just trying to get back to the bottom. I guess I thought I was clear back down in line. I visually saw the gap, so I just tried to get back in line and I got a huge shot from behind. I’m not sure if the No. 42 [Nemechek] got pushed in there [by Denny Hamlin] or he wasn’t expecting me to come back to the bottom or what the reasoning was, but nonetheless, it happened and it’s done.”
—Chase Elliott, Driver
Standing Above the Cut as Round of 12 Begins
As NASCAR resets the points for the next playoff round, Elliott finds himself seventh in the updated standings. The 2020 champion holds a narrow five-point margin over the cut line and will need strong performances in the Round of 12 to keep his pursuit of another title alive. The tense atmosphere around this dramatic Bristol night echoes across Hendrick Motorsports, especially for drivers like Elliott and Alex Bowman facing mounting pressure.
Elsewhere, Christopher Bell’s race victory and his subsequent dedication brought additional storylines to the Bristol weekend, while the playoff picture became clearer for those still chasing the NASCAR Cup. For Elliott, surviving the Bristol chaos in spite of the early exit means his championship quest continues, but the margin for error is slimmer heading into the next stage.
