Chase Elliott takes pride in his versatility. The Hendrick Motorsports driver enjoys the thrill of competing on different track types and testing his racing prowess in whatever circumstances NASCAR throws at him. The 2020 Cup Series winner is widely regarded as one of the sport’s biggest stars, excelling on ovals and road courses over the years. His skills have earned him a reputation for being adaptable. However, street races prove to be a challenge for the seasoned veteran.

In an insightful interview, the 29-year-old racing driver highlighted the difference between street racing and road courses, revealing the strategy, mindset, and approach required to get a result on the track.

Elliott emphasizes the importance of staying focused while street racing

It’s not easy competing for the Bill France Cup. Just ask Chase Elliott, who failed to make the Championship 4 for the second year in a row in 2024. Drivers are tested on different track types, in difficult weather conditions, and against the very best racers in the country. With the stakes high, every little advantage counts, and being a versatile racer can sometimes make all the difference in a sport that is often defined by fine margins. The No. 9 Chevy driver has learned this lesson the hard way after finishing 21st at the 2024 Grant Park 165, despite finishing third in the same race a year prior.

In a conversation with Fox 32 Chicago, Chase Elliott sat next to Bubba Wallace and shared the challenges of racing on a street course. The Georgia native said, “Just finding that balance of risk versus reward and obviously, throwing the rain into that the last couple of years had added a whole different element to a track that you already didn’t really have a lot of knowledge of. That made it tough.” The HMS driver also said, “I think the most evident way is there’s just not a lot of room for error at these tracks where a lot of normal road courses that you go to, you can get away with a mistake… But here there’s no room to run off the track.”

As things stand, NASCAR only has one street race on the calendar, which has been held in Chicago since 2023. Street races are just temporary tracks that are set up on public roads, which are narrow and have tight corners, making overtaking difficult. There is little margin for error on such tracks, as the concrete barriers can cause significant damage to the car. Typically, the car for such races is set up to have better handling and balance, even if it comes at the expense of speed to get a better grip on a surface that can be uneven, and not designed for racing.

Racing on a street is not just challenging for drivers, but also engineers, who have to adjust the car’s suspension to handle the bumpy ride. Unlike oval courses where the car only turns left, cars on a street race can turn in either direction, presenting a whole different dynamic that drivers need to cope with. Grant Park also features changes in elevation, as drivers go over a bridge just before approaching a turn. Formula 1’s Jenson Button also echoed Chase Elliott’s sentiment, saying, “It’s a big learning curve for everyone. There is no room for error.”

Chase Elliott reveals how he prepared for the 2023 Grant Park 220

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Eyebrows were raised when NASCAR announced that a race would be held on Chicago’s streets. For a sport that is known for its oval races, driving on a makeshift track that is used by the public was a drastic step, one that forced most drivers outside their comfort zone. Moreover, the sanctioning body had limited the duration of practice sessions after COVID-19, adding another challenge that racers were forced to overcome to remain competitive in a format they were wholly unfamiliar with.

That’s when technology came to the rescue. Revealing his preparation process ahead of races, Chase Elliott said, “Fortunately the simulators have come a long way. The track scans have got all the little bumps and character pieces of the roads here and that’s a huge benefit, especially year one. I think this year, you could probably go into it and not do anything if you really had to and be competitive. But you know, the simulator thing in that first year of learning was huge for me.”

2024 was a disappointing season for Chase Elliott, who secured just one win and exited the playoffs early. However, there were also plenty of encouraging signs from the Hendrick Motorsports driver, such as eleven top-five finishes as well as a serious upturn in form in the late-season races. The Georgia native will be leaving no stone unturned to turn his form around in the upcoming Cup Series campaign, and it’s well within the realm of possibility that he will reclaim his place back on the top.