After going winless in 2023, Chase Elliott ended the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series season on a high note. He snapped a 42-race winless streak with a victory at Texas, and the 2020 champion found his groove in the final stretch of the season. His performance gave Hendrick Motorsports hope that their No. 9 driver had finally turned a corner. Elliott himself believed his team was back on track.

“I find a lot of pride in our closing three or four weeks of the season, and just our performance, I thought, was in a good spot… if we can just carry that forward to next year, I think we’ll have a lot of great opportunities,” he had said. With that mindset, Elliott entered 2025 looking to reclaim his place as one of NASCAR’s elites. The 2020 NASCAR Cup Series champion was determined to build on that late-season success. He even started strong by winning the Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium.

But since then, things have not gone according to plan. The No. 9 team has struggled with penalties, bad luck, and missed opportunities. One of the biggest blows came at Homestead-Miami Speedway, where Elliott was hit with a controversial pit road penalty that left him frustrated. Now, ahead of the Martinsville race, he is addressing the issue.

The Miami penalty that shook Chase Elliott!

Last week at Homestead-Miami, Chase Elliott was hit with a costly pit lane penalty for not entering a single-file line under caution. The ruling came on lap 169, just as he had worked his way into the top 10 after starting 18th. The penalty dropped him to the back of the field, and he ultimately finished 18th—his worst result of the season. Elliott was frustrated. Over the radio, he pleaded with his team: “Just have them look at it because I gave the spot back.”

However, NASCAR ruled against him and HMS didn’t appeal it. This left many shocked. But now, ahead of the Martinsville race, Elliott admitted he thought about challenging it but ultimately chose not to. “No, I haven’t. I thought about it. I thought about it, but I didn’t. At the end of the day, it’s the rule. I understand it. I take responsibility for it. (But) I’ve not heard that one being called a lot. In my defense, if I was going to have a defense, I was in no way, shape, or form trying to gain an advantage… So, um, I get it. I’m not arguing it at all. You know, I just—I wish I could redo it.” Elliott told the media.

Elliott’s frustration was evident, but he somehow didn’t try to challenge the Miami decision. However, even if he had tried, he might have failed to get a favorable result. A few days after the incident, NASCAR’s senior vice president of competition, Elton Sawyer, defended the penalty. He explained that the rule exists to ensure safety on pit road. Under green flag conditions, cars can enter side by side. But under yellow flag conditions, they must be in a single-file line.

“By that point, there’s no reason to not be in a single-file line as you enter pit road. If the No. 9 is beside the No. 2, and the No. 2 is turning into his pit box, it could lead to a dangerous situation,” Sawyer said. With these comments, NASCAR emphasized that while this call is not common, it was the right one based on the rules. Notably, the Miami penalty was just another setback in what has been a frustrating season for Elliott.

Despite sitting sixth in the standings, he is falling behind his Hendrick Motorsports teammates. Kyle Larson, William Byron, and Alex Bowman have been battling for wins, while Elliott has led just two laps in six races. Hendrick Motorsports Vice Chairman Jeff Gordon recently addressed Elliott’s performance, emphasizing that being “close” is not enough for NASCAR’s top team.

“A lot of times, you’re really measuring yourself against the best out there, and a lot of times, that’s right in your own stable. If you’re not achieving what you want to achieve, you know you’ve got to go to work,” Gordon said. However, despite so much pressure and scrutiny, the 2020 Cup Series champion had a blistering run at Martinsville Speedway on Saturday.

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Elliott leads Hendrick Motorsports’ charge at Martinsville!

Despite his struggles this season, Chase Elliott delivered a strong performance in Martinsville qualifying. He secured a front-row start, missing out on pole by just 0.017 seconds to Christopher Bell. The No. 9 car showed great speed, proving that Elliott still has the potential to compete at the front. Notably, Martinsville has been a stronghold for Hendrick Motorsports. Last year, the team secured a dominant 1-2-3 finish at this track with Elliott coming third.

This time, they once again showed their strength in qualifying. Along with Elliott in second, Alex Bowman qualified third, and Kyle Larson took fourth. William Byron, the defending race winner, rounded out the top 10. “We had a solid day overall and [were] proud of the effort coming into the weekend, a great car, great prep. So yeah, good starting spot, a lot of work to do tomorrow and a long way to go, I’m ready to get it,” Elliott said after the qualifying session.

Hendrick Motorsports has also never lost the first Martinsville race of the season in the Next-Gen era! As wild as it sounds, it is true. In 2022, Byron took the win, leading 212 laps en route to a dominant win for HMS #24, while Elliott finished in the top 10. In 2023, Larson flexed his short-track muscle and took the victory, and yet again, Elliott was the only other HMS driver in the top -10. Come 2024, Byron got back to winning ways at the track he watched his first-ever race at. Point to note here Elliott has always been amongst contention for the race win, all he needs is some luck and after a torrid start to the season, now would be the perfect time for lady luck to arrive.

Elliott’s performance in qualifying is a promising sign. Martinsville is one of his best tracks, and he has finished inside the top 10 in every short-track race since last season. His runner-up finish in last year’s Martinsville playoff race adds to his confidence. With a P2 start, Elliott is now in a position to fight for his first win of the season. The Grandfather Clock trophy is within his reach. Do you think Chase Elliott will get rid of his early season blues at Martinsville? Let us know in the comments!