Chase Elliott Playoffs Saga: While not a candidate in the driver playoffs, Chase Elliott has unquestionably stirred the pot in this year’s NASCAR Cup Series in a stunning twist that defies typical NASCAR playoff narratives. Hendrick Motorsports No. 9 squad into the coveted round of 8 thanks to his deft movements, which was an unexpected development after a steady run in both the round of 16 and round of 12.
Elliott missed the playoffs this year for the first time in his eight-year career, which damaged his reputation. He competed in 19 races throughout the 26-race regular season while missing more than 25% of the action, but he failed to win. Elliott’s performance fell short of the requirements for the postseason, keeping him out of the postseason but maintaining a commendable points-per-race average.
But for the No. 9 team, fate had other ideas. Elliott’s replacements managed to steal the 16th and final slot in the owner playoffs from Bubba Wallace’s No. 23 team of 23XI Racing by accruing points throughout his absence. Wallace qualified for the driver playoffs. However, due to Elliott’s unanticipated comeback, Wallace’s team wound up on the wrong side of the postseason bubble.
Elliott and Wallace weren’t the only ones affected; the consequences also unexpectedly involved other drivers and teams. Four drivers and their respective teams were eliminated from the owner playoffs due to Wallace’s team and Elliott’s No. 9 team moving up from the round of 16 to the round of 12. However, Wallace’s progress was halted in the following rounds, while Elliott’s outstanding performance moved his group into the round of 8.
Martin Truex Jr., a driver playoff contender, was caught up in this complex web of playoff politics. Elliott was no longer in the running for the driver’s championship, so Truex was the eighth and last driver to qualify for the round of 8. However, his No. 19 team finished ninth. It was eliminated in the round of 12 in the owner playoff rankings, trailing Elliott’s No. 9 club.
This problem is the most intricate ever. A driver advanced to the round of 12 whose team didn’t initially make the playoffs. At the same time, a squad with a driver who didn’t participate in the playoffs at all made it to the round of 8. Even though his team was eliminated in the round of 12, an entirely different driver is now in the round of 8.
The differences in the cut lines between driver and owner playoffs provide an additional layer of intricacy, further adding to the confusion. The peculiarities of last year, such as Kyle Larson’s No. 5 team making it to the Championship 4 despite Larson being eliminated in the round of 12, Ryan Blaney’s No. 12 team making it to the round of 8 despite not being a playoff team, Elliott’s team being eliminated in the round of 8 while he advanced to the Championship 4, and so on, show the complex interplay of these two playoff systems.
The strange events surrounding Kurt Busch’s No. 45 23XI Racing squad, which made it to the owner playoffs despite Busch’s withdrawal due to a head injury, are the origin of this confusing story. Wallace managed to advance the No. 45 team into the round of 12 in the owner playoffs despite not being a playoff driver then, further muddying the NASCAR playoff landscape.
ALSO READ: Allmendinger Return: How It Alters Dillon’s Racing Fate
Our Reader’s Queries
How many Cup Series has Chase Elliott won?
With 18 career wins in the Cup Series, seven of which were on road courses, this driver has certainly made a name for himself. Interestingly, he’s also the son of a former Winston Cup Series champion, Bill Elliott. In fact, the Elliotts are part of an exclusive club of father-son NASCAR champions, alongside the likes of the Petty and Jarrett families. It’s clear that racing runs in this driver’s blood.
Did Bubba Wallace make the playoffs?
Despite being eliminated from the 2023 NASCAR playoffs in the Round of 12, Wallace had a successful postseason debut as he advanced out of the initial round. Reflecting on his weekend at the Charlotte ROVAL, Wallace expressed his excitement, stating that it was an incredible experience.
Is Chase Elliott out for the season?
NASCAR driver Chase Elliott recently shared a personal update on social media, revealing that he underwent a shoulder procedure. Despite the setback, he remains optimistic and is expected to make a full recovery in time for the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series season. Fans can rest assured that Elliott is determined to come back stronger than ever.
Who didn’t make NASCAR playoffs?
Elliott isn’t the only big-name driver to have missed out on the playoffs. His teammate, Alex Bowman, was also unable to make the cut due to an injury that kept him out of three races. Additionally, Austin Cindric, who was the reigning Rookie of the Year, failed to qualify for the playoffs this season after securing his spot through a win last year.
