Chase Elliott is aiming for a comeback in the Las Vegas playoff as the NASCAR Cup Series kicks off its crucial Round of 8 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Following mixed results in recent races at this Nevada track, Elliott and Hendrick Motorsports hope that hard-earned progress with the Next Gen car could translate into a strong performance on Sunday.
Elliott Addresses Next Gen Challenges at Las Vegas
Elliott has openly acknowledged the obstacles he and the No. 9 team have faced since Next Gen cars debuted in 2022. Despite his status as a consistent driver and 2020 Cup Series champion, Las Vegas hasn’t produced many victories for him recently — only three wins over the last three seasons with chevrolet/”>Chevrolet. Elliott reflected on their past performance and spoke candidly about adapting to changes brought by the new vehicle.
“I thought we had some pretty good runs (at Las Vegas) prior to Next Gen and then the inception of the Next Gen car, I feel like it was a pretty big step backwards.”
– Chase Elliott, NASCAR Driver
Elliott shared that while early races with the Next Gen car at Las Vegas were difficult, last fall showed promising progress. He noted that he and his team were able to keep up with the competition for much of the race, only to be slowed by an unfortunate crash. This spring, the team’s performance fell somewhere in between — more competitive than the earliest Next Gen outings, but not as strong as their promising fall effort. Still, the overall trend points toward improvement.
“And then I thought we had a really good run there going last fall. I thought we made some nice gains last year as a whole there. Had a really, really nice run going. I was excited about just having a solid day there in the fall and crashed. And I thought this spring was solid. More in the ballpark, not as good as we were in the fall, but certainly more competitive than some of the races.”
– Chase Elliott, NASCAR Driver
Building Momentum After Kansas and Charlotte
Entering Las Vegas on a wave of confidence, Elliott recently captured his 21st career NASCAR Cup Series win at Kansas Speedway. That Kansas victory not only cemented his spot in the next playoff round but boosted team morale as the intensity in the playoffs increases. The race lineup for the Round of 8 features Las Vegas as the first stop, before Talladega and Martinsville present further challenges.
Elliott’s positive momentum continued with a strong showing at the Charlotte ROVAL, where he gathered a solid haul of 40 points and finished eighth after running in the top 10 for both stages. Reflecting on this performance, Elliott explained how the team fought from mid-pack to a respectable finish, bolstering his optimism about their outlook in Las Vegas.
“I thought our pace was actually respectable. To restart, in the mid-20s there behind 20th place on a couple of occasions and get back inside the top 10, I feel like we were decent. Just needed to have something kind of go our way, with the way we were running it, but overall I thought it was a solid day for us and certainly gave it our best effort. Excited to get to Vegas.”
– Chase Elliott, NASCAR Driver
Playoff Standings Remain Tight for Hendrick Motorsports
As the Cup Series approaches the South Point 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Elliott finds himself 14 points below the cutline to advance to the Championship 4. Meanwhile, his Hendrick Motorsports teammates, William Byron and Kyle Larson, both stand four points above the threshold, highlighting the razor-thin margins that define this playoff phase. The playoff paths of all three drivers could be dramatically affected by Sunday’s outcome.
The upcoming South Point 400 returns on Sunday, October 12 at 5:30 p.m. ET, where teams and fans alike anticipate a fiercely competitive race in the heart of Nevada as drivers fight for a spot in the season’s final rounds. For Elliott, a robust finish will be critical if he is to keep his championship aspirations alive, especially against high-performing teammates like Byron and Larson.
What’s Next for Elliott and the Playoff Contenders?
The stakes are high as drivers head into Las Vegas, with every championship hopeful seeking to capitalize on evolving strategies and recent improvements. Elliott’s journey from his Next Gen struggles to his Kansas and Charlotte highs illustrates the relentless drive for growth at Hendrick Motorsports. If the progress seen in recent performances continues, the Chase Elliott Las Vegas playoff story could end with much-needed redemption and a ticket to the next phase of the title fight.
