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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – SEPTEMBER 26: Chase Elliott, driver of the #9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet, waves to fans during pre-race ceremonies prior to the NASCAR Cup Series South Point 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on September 26, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Meg Oliphant/Getty Images)
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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – SEPTEMBER 26: Chase Elliott, driver of the #9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet, waves to fans during pre-race ceremonies prior to the NASCAR Cup Series South Point 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on September 26, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Meg Oliphant/Getty Images)
With four wins in the regular season and inarguably being the best driver of the bunch, you’d think Chase Elliott would be the favorite to win the championship, or at least do better than the others in the playoffs. In fact, Elliott’s teammate Kyle Larson and Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt Jr. also emphasized recently how he is the clear-cut favorite.
But think again.
Because Chase Elliott himself doesn’t think so.
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In an interview ahead of the first playoff race at Darlington, the Hendrick Motorsports driver opened up on the notion of him being the favorite to win the championship.
“For me, there’s never a good answer, but I try to give an honest take on it,” he said. “Just because we have a win more than other people doesn’t mean other people aren’t capable of winning or having a really good day.”
“There are a lot of really talented drivers and a lot of really smart people working at these teams.”
The @NASCAR Cup Series Playoff field is set!
Who is your pick to win the 2022 #NASCAR Championship? #NASCARPlayoffs
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— Pocono Raceway (@PoconoRaceway) August 29, 2022
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Is Chase Elliott feeling comfortable with a 40-point playoff advantage??
Speaking about his advantage in terms of his points cushion, Chase Elliott emphasized that nobody is safe “at any point in time,” and that drivers must respect the format from week one all the way up to week ten.
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“I don’t think there is ever a period of time where you should think anything is taken for granted. No amount of playoff points is ever safe,” he said.
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LOS ANGELES, CA – FEBRUARY 05: Chase Elliott (#9 Hendrick Motorsports NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet) addresses the media in a press conference during the Busch Light Clash at The Coliseum NASCAR Cup Series race on February 05, 2022, at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Chris Williams/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Elliott continued by pointing out how each round is so short that a driver could endure back-to-back bad weeks without doing anything wrong. “Next thing you know, you’re in a position where you have to win the last race. That can happen to the guy who is first in points or the guy that is last,” he added.
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“No one is safe from that.”
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