Chase Elliott, a prominent NASCAR driver and 2020 Cup Series champion, is facing significant challenges with the current Next Gen car as he approaches the important Round of 12 in the NASCAR Cup playoffs. The focus now turns to how Elliott will contend with his performance history on these crucial tracks, especially amid close competition and mounting pressure.
Elliott’s Track Record in the Next Gen Era Presents Concerns
As the NASCAR playoffs head into the Round of 12, Chase Elliott finds himself examined for his recent results on these specific tracks in the Next Gen era. Elliott, who competes for Hendrick Motorsports in the No. 9 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, has had past success with two wins at the Charlotte Roval and one at Kansas Speedway. However, he has yet to win at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, the opening track of this round.
While these prior victories might suggest a favorable outlook, Elliott’s record at New Hampshire (often referred to as Loudon), Kansas, and the Roval since 2022 demonstrates a troubling trend. Despite his efforts, Elliott has not claimed a victory at any of these three tracks since the Cup Series introduced the Next Gen car, formally known as Gen 7. This drought raises questions about whether his driving style aligns with the new vehicle configuration, or if other circumstances have contributed to the lack of wins.
Elliott Reflects on the Pressure and Challenges of the Playoff Round
With the playoffs intensifying, Elliott shared his perspective on the formidable road ahead.
“This is a really tough round historically, always has been,”
Chase Elliott, Driver
He elaborated on the unique challenges this stage presents and what changes this season bring.
“So yeah, this one’s tough, and it’s always been a lot of fun. But the tracks have changed this year [one example: the Roval has a new Turn 7], and I think that’ll make it have a little bit of a different feel.”
Chase Elliott, Driver
Elliott is mindful of the difficulty in advancing from the Round of 12 to the Round of 8, emphasizing that every driver who does so remains in contention for the championship. The modifications to the tracks, such as the newly added Turn 7 on the Roval, inject further unpredictability into an already challenging series of races.
Strategic Approach to Survive and Advance
Looking ahead, Elliott considers the margin for error extremely narrow, describing a win-or-bust mentality required for advancement. He outlined his approach succinctly:
“There will be no having bad days, unless you win,”
Chase Elliott, Driver
“If you get a win early, sure, you can go crash in the next two if you want, right? But from a points perspective, by itself, there is no room for error.”
Chase Elliott, Driver
He recognizes concerns, both among fans and media, about his lack of wins at the playoff tracks since the introduction of the Next Gen car. Despite this, Elliott insists his team has consistently shown competitive speed, even if race wins have been out of reach. Staying focused on positioning himself to contend at the front remains his guiding principle.
“I think for us, though, the mindset is to try and put yourself in position to win races,”
Chase Elliott, Driver
“And that’s just kind of where we’re at. We have to go out and push and put ourselves in those positions to try and win. And if they work, then great. And if they don’t, then I think that you did all you could to try and make that happen.”
Chase Elliott, Driver
As this vital playoff round commences at New Hampshire, Elliott holds seventh in the point standings, only five points above the threshold that would eliminate him from advancing further. He faces a tight battle where every stage point and finishing position could prove decisive for Team Hendrick’s hopes of moving into the next round.
Recapping Elliott’s Unsteady Start to the Playoffs
Elliott’s path to the Round of 12 has already featured notable ups and downs. He began the Round of 16 with a disappointing 17th place at Darlington, but rebounded with a third-place finish at Gateway. A crash ended his race early at Bristol, leaving him 38th on the results sheet and risking elimination, but his performance in the second race provided enough points to keep his playoff hopes alive.
Steve Letarte, a former Hendrick Motorsports crew chief and current motorsports analyst, weighed in on Elliott’s playoff trajectory, sharing both concern and optimism about his ability to progress despite the recent lack of top-tier results with the Next Gen car.
“[Elliott] was the driver that I was concerned about, whether they were going to be good enough [to advance out of the opening Round of 16] because he’s just been consistent, but not crazy fast,”
Steve Letarte, Crew Chief/Analyst
“He’s the type of driver that’s going to have to be just faster in the next three races to continue.”
Steve Letarte, Crew Chief/Analyst
What’s at Stake for Elliott in the Next Gen Playoff Battle
The next races at New Hampshire, Kansas, and the evolving Charlotte Roval will test Elliott’s ability to overcome the visible challenges posed by the Next Gen car. With the playoff cut looming and only a slim buffer above the elimination line, every decision and lap becomes pivotal for Elliott, Team Hendrick, and their campaign for the NASCAR Cup championship.
Elliott’s determination, balanced by the realities of recent performance trends and evolving track layouts, will shape his pursuit of success in this critical playoff phase. The sport’s fans and analysts alike will be tracking whether Chase Elliott can reverse his fortunes, adapt to the Next Gen dynamics, and remain in the hunt for another championship run.
