Chase Elliott’s playoff journey remains alive after a tense finish at Bristol last weekend, despite a crash that nearly ended his season and left his Chase Elliott playoff chances in doubt. Now, the former NASCAR champion looks to capitalize on this unexpected opportunity as he and Hendrick Motorsports prepare for Sunday’s crucial race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
Elliott’s Playoff Future in Jeopardy after Bristol Crash
Appearing on Sirius Speedway on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, Elliott reflected on the pivotal moment in Bristol where a move from the top to the bottom lane resulted in contact with John Hunter Nemechek, sending Elliott into the wall and knocking him out of the race. Elliott ended the night in 38th place, marking his sixth finish outside the top 10 in his last eight races.
“We really deserved to be knocked out,”
Chase Elliott, Champion, noted as he considered the aftermath of the incident. The failed attempt caused immediate concern for his postseason prospects, especially as teammate Alex Bowman was running toward the front and could have potentially overtaken Elliott for a playoff spot if Bowman had won the race.
On SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, Elliott detailed his mindset in the aftermath:
“I just felt the urgency to get to the bottom and try to do what I could to save some tire,”
Chase Elliott, Champion, said.
“… It was a high risk, but I felt like it was a risk that I needed to try to take at that point in time in my head. Unfortunately, didn’t work out,”
Chase Elliott, Champion, explained.
The Tense Wait to Advance
The immediate concern in the Hendrick Motorsports camp was whether Elliott’s points cushion would hold. Reflecting on the anxiety of the moment, Elliott said,
“At that time, I thought our night, I thought our season was over, to be honest,”
Chase Elliott, Champion, shared. He described how a quick discussion with crew chief Alan Gustafson left both thinking their season had possibly ended in disappointment as the Bristol race drew to a close.
Elliott went on to recount the difficult wait that followed the crash and the uncertainty of his playoff fate:
“It took some time to kind of realize the situation and what it was going to take to knock us out. I got to watch it on TV with everybody else. It wasn’t the most pleasant hour and a half or so of my life watching, but it worked out, fortunately. Got really lucky with that, no question,”
Chase Elliott, Champion, reflected.
Surviving to Race Another Day
Thanks to his earlier finishes, particularly a third-place run at Gateway, Elliott narrowly advanced to the first round of the playoffs despite the struggles at Bristol and a 17th-place showing at Darlington. However, the challenge remains steep, as both Elliott and Hendrick Motorsports historically struggle at New Hampshire. The organization last claimed a win there in 2012, and Elliott has managed only three top-10 results in eleven career Cup starts at the 1-mile venue in the Northeast.
Elliott addressed his mindset heading into New Hampshire:
“I just feel like, yeah, you’re kind of in a spot where, ‘Man, we really didn’t deserve to be here based on the week before, let’s go and make the very most of it,’”
Chase Elliott, Champion, said. Now, Elliott sees little to lose and much to prove over the coming races.
Looking Ahead: A New Hampshire Test
Elliott likened the upcoming challenge to his efforts at Gateway, which offered some encouragement for his team’s current outlook.
“I think New Hampshire has some similarities to Gateway, so I’m looking forward to see how we stack up in that regard,”
Chase Elliott, Champion, observed on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
With the playoffs underway and his Chase Elliott playoff chances hanging by a thread, Elliott and Hendrick Motorsports head into New Hampshire seeking a much-needed turnaround. The upcoming weeks will determine if this second chance leads to redemption or another missed opportunity in the chase for the NASCAR championship.
