Chase Elliott has opened up about the difficulties he and his team encountered at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, where a costly pit road misstep and subsequent penalties dampened his momentum in pursuit of the NASCAR Cup Series Championship 4. The Chase Elliott Las Vegas setback highlights both the pressures of the postseason and the razor-thin margin for error faced by competitors at this stage of the season.
Strong Start Marred by Costly Pit Road Error
Entering the Las Vegas race, Chase Elliott, a native of Dawsonville and driver of the No. 9 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 for Hendrick Motorsports, seemed poised for success, having started from fourth position. Elliott, now in his tenth full year in the NASCAR Cup Series, had recently ended a 44-race winless streak with a significant victory at Atlanta Motor Speedway, and he claimed another win that season at Kansas in September. However, problems surfaced when an old tire from his car ended up rolling into another team’s pit box, which resulted in a pit road penalty. Elliott was forced to serve a pass-through penalty under green-flag conditions, a setback that greatly impacted his standing in the race.
Reflecting on the sequence of events, Elliott shared his thoughts on the day:
“I thought it was going pretty good for a little while at least. Started the day strong. Thought we had our balance in a really good spot. I was kind of happy about the way it was driving, everything. Unfortunately had a penalty on pit road.”
– Chase Elliott, Driver
He further elaborated:
“I probably missed a little bit on my first read. We only had a couple shots to try and help that,”
Chase Elliott continued. “Yeah, I got behind on adjustments for the track position. Couple bad decisions on that last restart.“ – Chase Elliott, Driver
Ultimately, Elliott finished the race in 18th position, collecting 25 points. This result left him sixth in the championship standings, with a 23-point gap below the playoff cutoff line. Over the course of 33 races this season, the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series champion has demonstrated strong performance with 10 top-five finishes, 17 top-10s, and a total of 424 laps led.
Elliott Commends NASCAR’s Plans for Increased Horsepower
Looking beyond the setback, Elliott addressed the recent news regarding NASCAR’s intention to boost engine horsepower at road courses and tracks less than 1.5 miles starting in 2026, a development expected to influence the racing dynamics considerably. NASCAR plans to increase the engine output from the current 670 baseline to 750 horsepower, with test sessions for the new engines scheduled at North Wilkesboro Speedway in December.
During an interview with Frontstretch.com, Elliott expressed his support for NASCAR’s decision:
“I think it’s a good effort for sure,”
Elliott said (7:06).
“And I think until we give that a go, who knows? You know, I think it’s easy to sit here and say it’s not enough or, you know, it’s not this or it’s not that, but it’s something, right? It’s something and they’re trying. So I applaud them for, you know, for the effort and, you know, trying to keep the engine shops in mind.”
– Chase Elliott, Driver
This change is intended to generate more intense action on shorter tracks and road courses, aiming for better competition while supporting the interests of the engine shops involved in the series.
Next Race and Outlook for the Season
Chase Elliott’s next opportunity to rebound comes at the YellaWood 500, scheduled for October 19 at Talladega Superspeedway. As anticipation builds for the 188-lap event—which will be aired on USA with live radio coverage on MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio—Elliott and his Hendrick Motorsports team are focused on regaining momentum after the recent setback. The Chase Elliott Las Vegas setback underlines the unpredictable nature of motorsports, while the NASCAR Cup Series continues to challenge drivers with its relentless demands and changing regulations.
The outcome at Talladega will be crucial for Elliott’s championship aspirations, as he seeks to close the gap and secure a spot in the next playoff round. With new technical developments on the horizon for NASCAR and several key races left in the season, Elliott’s experience and resilience remain central as fans and competitors alike watch the standings closely.
