HMS Legend Makes a Massive Chase Elliott Prediction While Exposing Next-Gen Car’s Vulnerabilities at Chicago

NASCAR’s inaugural street circuit races are nearing their maiden run. However, drivers, crew chiefs, and insiders have been piling up concerns about the Chicago Street Course. From non-existent runoff areas in corners to the rough and narrow track surface, a slight misstep could end the race day early for drivers. Add to that the short practice time of 50 minutes before qualifying; drivers will have to utilize every moment to get up to speed with the alien terrain.

Used to going flat out on NASCAR’s traditional racetracks, drivers will have to dial it down a notch when approaching the unforgiving street circuit. The extremely narrow turns have even prompted speculations of multi-car pile-ups, with many in the NASCAR fraternity slamming the controversial street circuit. Amid the nerve-racking speculations, former Hendrick Motorsports crew chief Steve Letarte has come forth with a massive prediction.

“The right mindset”: HMS legend’s massive Chase Elliott prediction

Chase Elliott’s 2023 NASCAR season has been far from satisfactory. Riddled by injury and a one-race suspension, HMS’s #9 driver ranks 25th on NASCAR’s Cup Series standings. Although 287 points behind the championship leader, fans know that Elliott is just a win away from returning to being called a championship favorite. Now, the HMS legend Steve Letarte has made a groundbreaking prediction regarding the HMS superstar.

Speaking on the Dirty Mo Dough podcast, Letarte revealed who his Chicago title favorites were. Having earlier had a conversation with Team Penske’s Austin Cindric, the HMS legend revealed how Cindric feels the skill set needed for a street course race is similar to what a road course demands. Explaining the Team Penske driver’s words, Letarte said, “Basically what he’s saying is it’s all risk management. You have to understand, you have to run 80-85 percent because if you step a wheel out it could end your day.” 

Further iterating the point of risk management, the HMS legend revealed his Chicago title favorite. “For that reason, I’m looking at the guys that I just feel have risk management approaches, right, because there’s some drivers that are good at the road courses…So when I put the Stevie spin on the predictor, I think Chase Elliott has the right mindset,” said the HMS legend, predicting Elliott’s possible victory at the inaugural street circuit race. He also played down Tyler Reddick chances, based solely on the fact that there will be a lot of pressure on his shoulders, considering this his boss Michael Jordan’s home turf.

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While making the massive title prediction, Steve Letarte also revealed a major point of vulnerability in the Next Gen car that could possibly end race day early for zealous drivers.

“They’re going to break”: Steve Letarte points out the Next Gen car’s vulnerability

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Amid Steve Letarte’s massive Chase Elliott prediction, the HMS legend also outlined a massive flaw in the Next Gen car. Admitting that the Cup cars are stronger than IndyCars or other open-wheeled cars, Letarte pointed out the one area where any damage could be race-ending.

 “Our cars are definitely tougher than Indy car and other Open Wheel series that runs at the street courses. But those toe links man, they’re not made of unobtainium. They’re just metal, they’re going to break,” Steve Letarte said. 

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With the Chicago race day approaching, do you agree with Steve Letarte’s Chase Elliott prediction? Let us know in the comments.