As of now, there are three Hendrick Motorsports drivers in the playoffs and only two spots left in the finals, with just one race to go. With the lights out at Martinsville, it will be clear as to which drivers will make it into the final round. As of now, Chase Elliott is last in the playoff standings with 43 points to catch up on. The only way he will make it into the playoffs is by winning the Martinsville race and the pressure is on.

While Elliott is in a tough position in the playoffs, William Byron is in the safe zone, and Kyle Larson is just 7 points below the cut line. There is a strong chance that one of the two drivers will make it into the playoffs, if not both. Martinsville is Elliott’s last chance to secure his spot in the Championship 4, but the 2020 champ is not stressing over it.

Chase Elliott is proud of his season so far

If you think Chase Elliott is sweating it, think again. He’s been in tight spots like this before, and he’s keeping things in perspective. Reflecting on the season, before the Homestead race, Elliott admitted, “Our year has been solid… except for the wins.” He knows his team has put in a lot of work and that there’s plenty to be proud of even if the checkered flags haven’t come their way as often as they’d like.

Despite the lack of wins, he’s focused on the overall strength of his team, seeing the value in their consistent efforts and improvement over the season. Chase Elliott knows better than to overthink. “To be candid, we’ve been in this spot before,” he explained. In his view, the pressure’s nothing new, and he’s learned to navigate it with calm confidence, trusting in his team and his experience to get through the weekend and, hopefully, back into contention.

While this was his mindset heading into Homestead, things did not change much for Martinsville. When Elliott was asked during the post-race interview about his take on the upcoming race, he replied, “I’m excited for Martinsville; it should be a good opportunity for us.”

This prompted a follow-up question from the interviewer as they spoke about the team’s performance over the season. The interviewer asked, “Knowing that Hendrick has had success at Martinsville, how confident do you feel knowing that it’s a must-win situation for you guys next week?” And in response to that, a very excited Elliott exclaimed, “Very!”

The last time Chase Elliott won the Martinsville race, he went all the way and clinched the championship in 2020. The HMS #9 will be looking to repeat history, but it is definitely a tall ask. Since the introduction of Next-Gen cars, he has only one finish above 10th place at Martinsville and that was in April earlier this year when he got P3. He had a streak of three continuous P10 finishes from April 2022 – April 2023 followed by a disappointing P17 last October. Elliott will need to build on his April race this year and make it a big one this time if he is to make it to Phoenix once again.

Although Elliott’s title chances depend on the upcoming race, it seems like he has a relaxed attitude heading into the semi-finals. He won his first title in 2020 and now that he has that achievement checked out of his bucket list, he isn’t taking too much stress about trying to win against the odds. Hendrick Motorsports has been one of the most dominant teams through the playoffs, but now that it’s come down to 2 seats in the finals, Elliott has stopped looking at his teammates as allies and believes that everyone is his rival.

Chase Elliott will prioritize his victory over his teammates

Trending

Tony Stewart’s Wife Leah Pruett Pens a Heartfelt Message for Husband After His Unwavering Support for His Family

Dale Earnhardt Jr. Offers a Once-in-a-Lifetime Opportunity to His Loyal Fanbase as He Gears Up for His Return With Budweiser

JRM Prodigy & Kelley Earnhardt’s Son Earn Major Backing as Dale Jr.’s Loyal Partners Announce 2025 Return

“It Drives Like a Forklift” – Shane van Gisbergen Controversially Splits the Difference Between NASCAR’s Proud Next Gen and Xfinity Cars

Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin’s Gamble on Tony Stewart’s Money Loaded Star Could Not Be Worth the Financial Hassle

In a nail-biting showdown at Homestead-Miami, Hendrick Motorsports teammates Chase Elliott and Kyle Larson faced off with high stakes on the line. Both drivers knew that winning would punch their ticket to the Championship 4 in Phoenix on November 10, but only one could emerge victorious. And with so much on the line, the concept of “teammates” was quickly left in the dust.

Larson came out swinging, leading the early laps until a flat tire sent him into the wall in Stage 1, pushing him into recovery mode. Meanwhile, Elliott was racking up stage points and inching closer to the front. With about 60 laps left, he was running second, and Larson, who’d fought his way back up to third, was right on his bumper. The pressure was intense, especially for Elliott, who had a bigger points deficit to overcome. Realizing what was at stake, his spotter got on the radio with a reality check: “Larson is not your teammate right now.”

Fueled by the reminder, Elliott kept his foot on the gas, fighting off Larson’s challenge. He ultimately finished fifth, while Larson spun late in the race, settling for 13th. Though Elliott got the upper hand that day, his position still wasn’t enough to secure him a Championship 4 berth. Now, sitting 43 points below the cutline, his shot at Phoenix is slipping away.

For Larson, however, there’s still hope. With only seven points separating him from the Championship 4 cutoff, next week’s race at Martinsville will be make-or-break. Who do you think will make it into the top 4 after the Martinsville? Share your thoughts in the comments below.