Chase Elliott Reveals His Biggest Threat at Michigan

The 2023 playoffs are approaching fast as only four races remain in the Cup Series’ regular season. Lagging behind in performance and points this season, Chase Elliott is now in a do-or-die situation. Currently sitting at the 20th spot on the Cup Series standings, the Hendrick Motorsports star is 40 points behind the playoff cut line.

With NASCAR ready to light up the tracks at Michigan, Chase Elliott has revealed his biggest threat at the 2-mile oval.

Chase Elliott unveils his Michigan threat

Unable to keep up, ending his Chicago performance third-place, the pressure to perform well has been building on Chase Elliott. After a disappointing 13th place at Richmond’s Cook Out 400, the 2020 Cup Series champion has now qualified in the 10th spot for the upcoming FireKeepers Casino 400 race. Yet to claim a race win this season, Chase Elliott unveiled a major roadblock that awaits him at the upcoming Cup Series race.

Speaking in the pre-race presser at Michigan International Speedway, the #9 Hendrick Motorsports driver said, “I am just trying to think back to last year and it seems like all the Gibbs cars were really strong here last year as a whole. I think at some tracks, the characteristics here might carry forward and I am not sure that all of them necessarily are that way.” 

As Elliott revealed Joe Gibbs Racing as his biggest threat at Michigan, his statement of JGR performing well at Michigan is justified by a glance at the FireKeepers Casino 400 starting grid. Starting from the front of the field will be JGR’s #20 driver Christopher Bell after claiming his second pole win of the season.

Further adding to Elliott’s woes, his playoff spot contender, #54 Ty Gibbs has claimed the third spot. Closely following his JGR teammates is #19 Martin Truex Jr, who has claimed the fifth spot on the starting grid.

Read More: “They Want a Lot of Control” – Chase Elliott Exposes NASCAR, Revealing Their Plans

But while Chase Elliott will be battling the JGR threat at Michigan, the 2-mile D-shaped Michigan oval will pose a challenge of its own.

“Its own animal” – Chase Elliott’s thoughts on the Michigan oval

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Having detailed his biggest roadblock for the FireKeepers Casino 400 Cup Series race, the HMS star believes the surface of the 54-year-old Michigan track will present a challenge of its own.

In the pre-race presser, Chase Elliott said, “I do think this place is very unique and it is its own animal. You kind of look at it and you think maybe it’s like Fontana, but it’s really not at all like Fontana.  I never had a chance to race here at the old surface, so this is all I have really known ever since I have been running.”

He further added, “This place has always been kind of its own world. I do think it is the last normal look, I guess, but at the same time, this place is very different. I wouldn’t read too terribly far into it.”

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Given the HMS star’s long list of roadblocks, can Chase Elliott claim his first race win of the 2023 season at Michigan? Tell us in the comments!