For Chase Elliott, the 2023 Cup Series season has been an absolute disaster. He has yet to win a single race so far and did not even qualify for the playoffs. The 27-year-old’s miseries started early this season. He had seriously injured his leg and was out of action for six races. The 2020 Cup Series champion still has a shot at redemption before the end of the year. However, as far as Denny Hamlin is concerned, Elliott faces an unorthodox obstacle.
As far as the Hendrick Motorsports star is concerned, even one race victory would do wonders for his confidence at the moment. His only shot at redemption this season will be winning the owner’s championship for Rick Hendrick. The driver of the #9 might not be challenging for the Cup but one thing can be assured he will always give his 100% on track. If he is able to clinch the owner’s title in Phoenix, Denny Hamlin believes that it would make for a unique scene.
Denny Hamlin reveals Chase Elliott’s unique hurdle
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The situation was put out in the open on a recent episode of Actions Detrimental. Denny Hamlin’s co-host and close friend Jared Allen said that there could be a triple burnout possibility at Phoenix. That would mean that there would be the race winner, the Cup Series champion, and the owner’s champion.
“That would be unprecedented, wouldn’t it? You’d have a race winner as a non-playoff guy is what you’re saying, you have your champion, and then you have the owner’s champion. Driver’s champion, owner’s champion, race winner,” Hamlin said.
But the 42-year-old noted that this would not be received well by a certain company. This is the unorthodox roadblock that Chase Elliott might face if he wins the owner’s championship in Phoenix. According to Denny Hamlin, NASCAR would have the biggest problem if there were three different drivers winning the three titles.
“You know who’s rooting so hard against all that? NASCAR. They do not want a deluded…you know, this guy is this champion, this car is that champion and this person won the race. That’s bad for business,” the Joe Gibbs Racing driver added.
This is when his co-host Jared Allen made the comment, “Not Chase Elliott.”
Despite not being in the fight for the Cup Series title, Chase Elliott said that he is still just as motivated. Fighting for the owner’s title is not something NASCAR’s most popular driver has done before.
However, he is not taking it lightly at all.
NASCAR’s most popular driver still as motivated as ever
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In a recent interview, the driver of the no. 9 revealed his approach to fighting for the owner’s championship. Perhaps it is a place that Chase Elliott does not want to be, but his level of commitment to get the job done is incredible.
“It’s kind of surprised me in a way because obviously, there is a lot of talk about the driver side and there is not really a lot of talk about the owner’s front. Once the deal got started, I don’t feel any different than I have felt in years past,” Elliott said.
“It still keeps us very motivated and keeps me motivated to want to go and do a good job. Now that we are here, it feels like another playoff year really in our approach and my approach,” he added.
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If Chase Elliott can manage to win the owner’s championship for Rick Hendrick, it would do wonders for his confidence. Going into the 2024 season, the driver will have a clear mind and be hungrier than ever.
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