“It Is a Really Tough Thing” – Bad News for Chase Elliott as Crew Chief Fails to Show Any Confidence Ahead of Homestead-Miami

Rick Hendrick‘s season has been nothing short of a rollercoaster ride. Hendrick Motorsports began with a gloomy start, as two of its star drivers were sidelined by injuries. But just when it seemed like HMS’s season was spiraling into despair, the team came back with a vengeance. Dominating the asphalt, they gave their competitors a run for their money.

Although Their Golden Boy, Chase Elliott, missed out on the drivers’ playoffs, the postseason emerged as a shining beacon of hope as he secured a spot in the owners’ championship’s round of 8, sidelining the regular season champ’s #19 team. However, as the finale approaches, the situation for Elliott‘s crew is becoming increasingly dire.

Vegas veer-off: #9 team’s 2023 resurgence stumbles in Nevada

Chase Elliott’s 2023 resurgence hit a major roadblock in Las Vegas, where he found himself in an unfamiliar and difficult position. The Nevada race, similar to Texas, marked one of the few occasions during the postseason where Elliott failed to secure a top-10 finish. This unexpected turn of events began with a wreck during qualifying, which forced him to resort to a backup car.

Regrettably, the backup car failed to display the same speed, resulting in zero stage points and a disappointing 32nd-place finish, after a penalty added to their woes. The hit to their chances of advancing to the Championship 4 in the Owners’ Championship is substantial. Post-Las Vegas, the #9 team finds itself a staggering 61 points behind the cut-line. And with Homestead and Martinsville looming, the crew chief isn’t singing the victory tune for Elliott.

Crew chief Alan Gustafson highlighted the critical differences between practice conditions and the actual race scenario, drawing from their recent experience in Las Vegas. He stated, “It is a really tough thing because what we really ran into in [Las] Vegas was just as extreme. You go out there at 9:30 in the morning [for practice] and it is super cool, and there is no rubber on the track. The pace is just through the roof. You are running as fast as everybody qualified. You are not really going to get a great indication on what your big struggle is going to be during the race.”

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He emphasized the significance of a gripped-up track in cool conditions, allowing for different racing lines. However, he acknowledged that these conditions vastly differ from a race with traffic, rubber on the track, and warm temperatures. “That is certainly an added degree of difficulty. At Vegas, we learned some things on how to handle that better and we will try to apply that at Homestead.”

Chase Elliott shifts gears, aiming to outrace setbacks in the owner playoffs

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Meanwhile, the 2020 champion remains unfazed by the recent setbacks and holds his hopes high as he approaches the remainder of the Round of 8 in the owner playoffs. Elliott shared his perspective, saying, “Last weekend was tough for sure, but right now we’re focused on Homestead-Miami Speedway, and I’m looking forward to getting there. Obviously, we’re in a position where we need to win one of the next two to get into the Championship 4 on the owner’s side, and I do think we’re a team that’s capable of doing that.”

He expressed his belief in the team’s potential and highlighted the progress they’ve made throughout the playoffs, with the exception of Las Vegas. He emphasized, “I feel like, other than Vegas, we’ve really been making gains and, overall, have just enjoyed the challenge of trying to advance through these rounds. I’m going to continue doing what I can to improve where I need to.”

The 27-year-old’s final words are a testament to his dedication: “This team deserves a win, and I want to get them one.” The championship mindset remains firmly in place, and the journey through the NASCAR playoffs continues. The next two weeks would be a must-win situation for the determined No. 9 team. Victory may be a long shot, but in NASCAR, the unexpected can and does happen.

Read more: William Byron Acquits Chase Elliotts’ Traitor Despite Recurring Problems Plaguing the Drivers