The ever-thrilling NASCAR Cup Series has reached an all-time high. The adrenaline rush right now is beyond expression as the Top 8 drivers reach Martinsville Speedway. This is the ultimate decider that will finally contribute to the contenders for the Finals at Phoenix. While drivers are always at their optimum best on the tracks, the decider matches tend to add to the extra zing and ensure that the audience stays hooked through the entire three stages. 

Recently, Chase Elliott’s crew chief, Alan Gustafson, rekindled hopes among fans that the Martinsville Speedway does hold a lot of excitement and it is going to be as enthralling as ever. With only two spots left for the Top 4, it is indeed going to be a tough battle.

Will Elliott too be able to show some unique tactics that can get him to the top 4 at Phoenix

Chase Elliott currently stands in the 8th position. If he is unable to secure a win at the Martinsville Speedway, he will not stand a chance to make it to the Top 4. While drivers continue to showcase their best skills on the track, the audience often seems to be eagerly waiting for what they can witness next. However, even in such a context, it seems as though crew chief Alan Gustafson is positive about the possibilities of a thrilling race on the tracks. 

Recently, Gustafson shared how the tracks are unpredictable and this often leaves a lot of area for drivers to showcase their impeccable feat. Gustafson shared, “I think there’s a lot left. I mean here’s it’s, yeah the margin of each winning and losing its never been smaller in any little thing you know. I can go back to Homestead and pick things that people probably think aren’t significant that I would argue could have certainly changed the outcome of the race. So I think there’s tons of things you know it could be anything. It could be anybody, it could be somebody who’s not in the chase that decides to stay out or do some different strategy that you know one car in one lane and then you know move from the outside or remove one row back. It’s the difference.”

The unpredictability of the tracks combined with the mindset and car conditions often contributes to a unique race on the tracks. Given that Chase Elliott had a narrow miss at Homestead and he can manage a victory at Martinsville in 2020, he can still be a Top 4 contender. In Homestead Miami, Elliott managed to lead 81 laps and collected a total of 17 stage points. However, Tyler Reddick managed to overtake and mark his victory.

Speaking about his possibilities at Martinsville, Elliott said, “I just think the more you put yourself in those types of positions where there’s a lot on the line or your back is against the wall or whatever it may be, I think the next time you get there you feel better about it. You understand the situation. I think the biggest thing as time goes, you have a better understanding of what really matters and you can kind of boil it down to those things and just go to work”. He even added, “Honestly, I’ve been really happy with how we’ve run the last two weeks, some of our, if not our best runs throughout the course of the season and just as a whole with where our team was.” Given that he will be guided by none other Gustafson does reaffirm the thought that Chase Elliott might be able to showcase some great driving skills on the track. 

Where Does Chase Elliott currently Stand?

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Elliott is currently placed 43 points below the cutline which honestly does not contribute to his pool of benefits. However, given the unpredictability of the race, it is possible that he salvages himself and makes it to the top. Given the statistics, only a victory at the Martinsville Speedway can confirm his entry to the Top 4 at the Phoenix Speedway.

Reacting to the same, Elliott said, “I think that you look at those statistics… I would have rather won more races. Chase Elliot would rather have won more races… Kyle Larson won the most. I’m guessing if he would rather have won more races too, right? So, like, it never stops… I don’t sit back and say, we’re kind of screwed.” Elliott finished in the 3rd position in the spring race last year and currently, he has four top 10 finishes in the last five races. 

Despite the Martinsville challenge, Chase Elliott has a lot of experience in the bag. In 2020, facing a similar situation, Chase Elliott battled Martin Truex Jr. for the lead of the race. With 43 laps left, he made the overtake and held the lead for the remainder of the race. It was this win that catapulted him to the eventual 2020 Cup Series title at Phoenix. If Elliott manages to take Martinsville, he gains massive momentum in his championship hopes. The only hope Hendrick Motorsports will have is to not inadvertently cause another one of their cars an unfortunate exit from the Top 4, since Kyle Larson does stand outside the cutoff line at the moment.