The entire NASCAR community would agree that Chase Elliott is the undisputed master of road courses. Before his snowboarding injury, Elliott had emerged victorious in 7 of the 25 Cup Series road course races that he ran. This means he has a win rate of a little more than one in every four races, which is quite impressive in the arena of stock car racing. However, as we all know, he is still short of securing a win to make it into the playoffs.
As he hangs 40 points behind the cutline and as two road course races are knocking around the corner, fans are anticipating the return of the old Chase Elliott on the road course of Watkins Glen. But the HMS Chevy sensation does not consider the speedways any different.
The Golden boy of Hendrick Motorsports is fed-up with the same question
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When you excel at something, everyone starts expecting more from you. It becomes an added pressure on one’s shoulders to live up to the expectations of everyone. And that might sometimes prove to be harmful to one’s mindset. The best way to get any job done is to take small steps, one at a time. And that is exactly what the 27-year-old native of Georgia does with his races.
However, the expectations do not seem to subdue him at all. During the pre-race interview at Michigan International Speedway, a reporter asked Chase if he had put a circle on the date when the race at Watkins Glen is about to happen and if he is putting extra emphasis on the two road courses ahead of him.
The way he replied to this recurring question clearly showed his frustration. He said, “I have said this, I don?t circle races. That is not how I operate. I just take it week to week and try to get better. Like I have told you guys a thousand times, and I will make it a thousand and one…”
It does not matter to Elliott if it is a Superspeedway or a short course, Chase takes every race seriously. The 2022 Cup Series champion stated that his aim is to be competitive every week and strive to bring the best out of himself. “That is where I want to get. I will keep working really hard until we can achieve that,” Elliott added with firm resolve.
Read more: Chase Elliott Delivers Heartbreak to His Fans as He Accepts His Fate Outside Playoffs
But there has to be some strategy, right? When all the cars run at the same speed, there ought to be some teamwork, or some quirk in the decisions that Hendrick Motorsports is taking before the races?
Elliott’s strategy of racing is still the same
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Reporter Cameron Richardson asked Elliott what his strategy is going to be as the team stands at the verge of having an all-out race at Michigan. Winning stage points, or giving it your all to secure the victory, what is it going to be?
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The defending champion does not consider the two aspects of the race any different from each other. “I think gaining a lot of points and contending for win is very much one and the same,” he said, “It’s not coincidence that the guys are high up in points have race wins but they’re also leading the regular season thing.”
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Winning stage points is the cause and winning the race is the effect. One cannot exist without the other. Elliott explained, “If you’re gaining a lot of points,?you’re probably going to have a shot to win and if you’re not then you’re probably not going to have a shot to win.”
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Do you agree with Chase Elliott? Or are you one of those who expect Chase to dominate in the road courses? May we remind you that NASCAR will be having two of its other road course experts in the upcoming races, i.e., AJ Allmendinger and Shane Van Gisbergen.
The excitement just went up a notch, did it not?