Chase Elliott Falling Far Behind His Hendrick Motorsports Teammate Could Make Things Uncomfortable

What could have been a good day for the number 9 team ended miserably in lap 55 at Watkins Glen International. As Chase Elliott fell prey to a miscalculated pit strategy, his chance of making it to the playoffs remained uncertain as ever. He needs that win at Daytona to break out of the bubble. However, considering the madhouse that the 500-mile-long race already is, the chances are dangerously low for the Chevy icon.

NASCAR Hall of Famer reveals his take on Chase Elliott’s mishap

Chase Elliott has never missed the playoffs in his previous seven seasons. Moreover, he is the defending regular-season champion. His predicament is a pity for those who support him. Earlier in the season, Chase had lost 7 valuable races; one to a suspension and 6 others to an injury. While other drivers were working on their games, Elliott was out of the picture, and that has taken a huge toll on his performance this year.

While talking to NBC’s Nate Ryan, Dale Jarrett shed light on how he felt about the Golden Boy of Hendrick Motorsports. He admitted that two of the three HMS Chevrolets have failed to display the speed that everyone expected of them. He said, “We’re seeing the same thing with his teammate and Alex Bowman with the races that he missed. Neither one of them have had the speed that we are used to seeing from these two drivers.”

Jarrett explained that both these drivers are lagging behind due to unfortunate circumstances and they are making desperate attempts to catch up with the other contenders. “You have to understand… it makes you do things that you’re first not comfortable in doing and second, you haven’t had to do these so you’re not really sure how to go about it,” he said.

Alan Gustafson’s mistake was giving Chase the wrong information about the number 9 car’s refueling time. Indeed, to err is human.

However, mistakes don’t always come without consequences. Jarrett said, “…this certainly was costly and I’ll say costly in a way that it took away any chance that they had.”

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Dale Jarrett joined hands with the fans as they celebrated William Byron’s first road course victory

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While talking about the number 24 driver for Rick Hendrick, Jarrett stated that nobody in the field could have done anything different to match the speed and valor of William Byron at the Glen. So much so that he wished he had been able to do what Byron did. “I think that it completes your resume as a driver,” he acknowledged.

He continued, “A great job to have that in your pocket that the competitors know now that there isn’t anywhere that you go that you can’t put William Byron’s name in the mix that he can possibly win the race.”

When Team Hendrick tweeted “He’s a road course winner”, fans showered praises on the 25-year-old Charlotte, North Carolina native.

“Congratulations @TeamHendrick HMS for another straight win at WG!! Awesome job whole day @WilliamByron and 24 team!!” typed a fan in the comments section.

Another Byron fan declared, “He is amazing I told many he was gonna be great 5 wins way to go! Doesn’t surprise me at all.”

While someone else said, “Yes, Willie B! Gettin’ it done on the road course…Nice job!”

While Byron was receiving his flowers after his first career win at a street course, the fans ridiculed Chase Elliott’s crew and said, “Let’s go! Glad Byron at least has a competent crew.”

In that tone, another HMs supporter wrote, “24 in the penthouse 9 in the shit house!!”

While Kyle Larson and William Byron have already made it to the playoffs, the other two HMS drivers remain dangling inside the bubble. Everyone is now excited about the last game at Daytona Beach, Florida.

Read More: “What Are They Doing”- Chase Elliott and HMS Insider Joins Hand To Snub NASCAR’s Flawed Crew