Chase Elliott Championship 4 hopes came to a disappointing end at Martinsville Speedway, as the NASCAR Cup Series driver finished third but fell short of advancing to the final round. Elliott, piloting the No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, showed speed throughout the Xfinity 500 on Sunday, but it was not enough to secure his place in next week’s championship race in Phoenix.
Elliott’s Podium Finish Not Enough for Phoenix
Entering the penultimate event desperate for a win, Chase Elliott needed a victory at Martinsville to stay in the Championship 4 hunt. He finished fourth in both of the race’s opening stages, indicating strong performance by the 2020 champion. Despite this, Elliott could not catch William Byron and Ryan Blaney, who crossed the line first and second, respectively. Elliott managed to overtake Ross Chastain for third place in the closing laps, but Chastain was not a contender for the title fight.
A Repeat of Recent Seasons
This marks the third consecutive year Elliott has failed to secure a Championship 4 spot after reaching the finale three straight times from 2020 through 2022. Notably, Elliott had previously won at Martinsville in 2020 when he needed a victory to advance, but he could not repeat that outcome this year. Although the 2024 campaign will end without another title shot for Elliott, the season brought positives, including his first multi-win effort since 2022. The No. 9 team has shown progress, positioning Elliott as a likely championship favorite when the new season starts in February.
Looking Ahead for the No. 9 Team
While Elliott, a popular figure following in the footsteps of NASCAR Hall of Famer Mark Martin, will not compete for a title at Phoenix this year, his performance keeps him among the drivers expected to contend in upcoming seasons. Ryan Blaney, William Byron, and Ross Chastain all played key roles in shaping the outcome in Martinsville, and the race maintains its importance as a cutoff event. Hendrick Motorsports will now shift focus to 2025, aiming to capitalize on their strengths shown this season. The fan base, familiar with names like Mark Martin and expectations for drivers of Elliott’s stature, will be watching to see how he and the team respond to this setback in the next NASCAR Cup Series campaign.
