Chase Elliott pit strategy came into sharp focus during the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on Sunday, September 21, as he and his No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports team rebounded from a tough qualifying position to finish an impressive fifth. The critical pit calls made by crew chief Alan Gustafson proved essential, enabling Elliott to leap 22 spots from his starting position and strengthening his case in the playoffs.
Heading into Sunday, the outlook was far from optimistic for Chase Elliott after he placed 20th during practice and an even more challenging 27th in qualifying. Struggling for track position early at a circuit notorious for limited passing under green, Elliott missed out on stage points in the opener but methodically gained ground, finding himself in 16th at the end of stage one.
Gustafson’s calculated risk began in stage two under the sixth caution of the race at lap 150. Opting for right-side tires only and fuel, Gustafson elevated Elliott deep into the field, a bold call that paid off with Elliott running inside the top ten and collecting four valuable stage points with a seventh-place finish in stage two.
“Right-side tires and fuel for the @NAPARacing Chevy. #di9 pic.twitter.com/imYyhZn63m”— No. 9 Team (@Hendrick9Team), September 21, 2025
The closing laps saw yet another strategic masterstroke. During a caution on lap 253, Elliott and his crew chief stayed out on track, one of only two lead-lap drivers to do so. This put him side-by-side with leader Josh Berry for the restart, and though fresh tires eluded Elliott, his well-timed gamble secured a hard-fought fifth-place result—an enormous leap from where he began the race.
“The @NAPARacing team opted to stay out under the yellow”— No. 9 Team (@Hendrick9Team), September 21, 2025
Reflecting on his afternoon after the checkered flag, Elliott stated,
“I thought everybody on pit road did a great job with a terrible stall. Hats off to our pit crew, really everybody across the board on our NAPA team just executed a good race. Alan called a good race obviously staying out there at the end. We made our bed there with running long at the end.”
— Chase Elliott, Driver
“P5 in New Hampshire. Great work all day from our 9 team 👊🏼 pic.twitter.com/51Ou9LiDkA”— Chase Elliott (@chaseelliott), September 21, 2025
These critical moves from Gustafson and the No. 9 crew have positioned Elliott to contend seriously in the playoffs, especially with the margin between advancing or being eliminated potentially coming down to a single stage point.
Team Penske Dominates, But Pit Tactics Shape Outcomes
While Chase Elliott’s run stood out, Team Penske’s trio of drivers made headlines by leading 263 of 301 laps at New Hampshire. Ryan Blaney carried the banner, putting in 116 laps at the front and crossing the finish line first, netting his third Cup Series victory of the season. Blaney’s performance further strengthens his position moving forward in the postseason.
The unique nature of New Hampshire, with its difficulty for on-track passing, set the stage for pit stop strategies to become decisive. Multiple teams across the field utilized two-tire or fuel-only stops in order to leapfrog rivals and grab crucial track position, underscoring just how much of an impact those moments have at a track known for its slick racing surface and limited opportunities to move forward under green conditions.
Mixed Fortunes for Other Pit Road Gambles
Two-tire strategies were not limited to the No. 9 team, and results varied for those bold enough to attempt them. Chase Briscoe, after showing strength in earlier playoff rounds, began the race in 18th and took a calculated risk orchestrated by crew chief James Small on lap 113, becoming the first car off pit road with two right-side tires. The immediate benefits were clear as Briscoe briefly led the race before Kyle Larson reclaimed the top spot on lap 134. Though Briscoe secured two stage points and finished ninth in stage two, he ultimately concluded his race in 10th, precariously placed just 12 points ahead of Ross Chastain for the final transfer spot above the playoff cut line.
Austin Cindric, another Team Penske driver and playoff hopeful, experienced different results. After starting the race in 22nd and missing points in the opening stage, his crew chief Brian Wilson tried to turn the day around with a right-side-only tire change during post-stage two cautions. Cindric restarted on the front row but slipped quickly outside the top 10, finishing 17th. He now faces an uphill battle, sitting 19 points below the cutoff, and will need standout results in the upcoming races to avoid playoff elimination.
The Road Ahead: Kansas and Beyond
The Round of 12 resumes at Kansas Speedway next Sunday for the Hollywood Casino 400 Presented by ESPN Bet. Broadcast coverage kicks off at 3 p.m. ET, where the higher speeds and greater opportunities to pass under green may slightly reduce the intensity of pit road strategy, but those tactics are still set to play a pivotal role.
With the Charlotte Motor Speedway ROVAL looming as the critical elimination race, every remaining playoff contender not yet locked into the next round will be desperate to maximize their points cushion. As the field tightens and stakes rise, precision and bold decision-making—on pit lane and behind the wheel—will be essential to keep championship dreams alive.
The dramatic turnaround engineered by Chase Elliott and his team at New Hampshire is likely to serve as a blueprint for others, highlighting how shrewd pit strategy, as demonstrated by Alan Gustafson and the NAPA Racing crew, can be just as important as outright speed in the quest for NASCAR Cup Series success.
Right-side tires and fuel for the @NAPARacing Chevy. #di9 pic.twitter.com/imYyhZn63m
— No. 9 Team (@Hendrick9Team) September 21, 2025
The @NAPARacing team opted to stay out under the yellow
— No. 9 Team (@Hendrick9Team) September 21, 2025
P5 in New Hampshire. Great work all day from our 9 team 👊🏼 pic.twitter.com/51Ou9LiDkA
— Chase Elliott (@chaseelliott) September 21, 2025
