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DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 19: Chase Elliott, driver of the #9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet, waits in the garage area during practice for NASCAR Cup Series 64th Annual Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 19, 2022 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images)
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DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 19: Chase Elliott, driver of the #9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet, waits in the garage area during practice for NASCAR Cup Series 64th Annual Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 19, 2022 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images)
The race at Martinsville proved to be yet another instance after which Chase Elliott crossed yet another race week without a win. A little glance to his left and right, all his teammates have won a race.
There’s one circle on Kyle Larson’s calendar, one on Alex Bowman’s, and now two on William Byron’s. Everybody has a win except him.
Yet one might think the silver lining in this situation for NASCAR’s Most Popular driver would be that at least his teammates are performing well, taking their cars to the victory lane, right?
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Steve Letarte doesn’t think so.
In fact, it’s quite the opposite for the former Hendrick Motorsports man as he gave his own example of being in a team in which you’re the only one who doesn’t win while your teammates do.
“It hurts. It hurts when your teammate beats you,” Letarte said. “I was beaten by Jimmie Johnson countless times, I know. It hurts less when someone else beats you because you think they might have something you don’t.”
He also mentioned the “tough conversations” that Elliott and his crew chief Alan Gustafson need to have.
On the @NASCARonNBC Podcast, @SteveLetarte analyzed where things are for @chaseelliott and Alan Gustafson after leading 185 laps in a 10th at Martinsville, more than a year since their last oval win.
Here’s a clip (full pod audio https://t.co/oLl69GOwp9): pic.twitter.com/qleZ3piusj
— Nate Ryan (@nateryan) April 14, 2022
“The (No.) 9 car is a real conversation that, I’m not saying Alan and Chase have to have, but he’s gonna have to start answering these questions in the media. And the good media members are gonna ask those questions whether it upsets Chase or not.” Letarte said.
“So I just think as long as Chase and Alan can have those tough conversations together, they’re gonna be fine. And knowing Alan, they’re willing to.”
Chase Elliott had the car to win at Martinsville according to Steve Letarte
Despite leading the major chunk of the race, Chase Elliott saw his teammate William Byron take the checkered flag for his second win of the season at Martinsville.
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However, Steve Letarte feels the No.9 driver had the car himself to take the checkered flag too.
via Getty
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 06: Chase Elliott, driver of the #9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet, and William Byron, driver of the #24 Valvoline Chevrolet, talk during the qualifying heats for the NASCAR Cup Series Busch Light Clash at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on February 06, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
“I thought at one point or for a big chunk of the race, they had a race-winning car,” Letarte said.
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“So the other races I feel like they didn’t win but didn’t have the car to win. And I think for 180 laps in that race they had the car to win.”
Also Read: Despite “A Good Lesson”, Kyle Larson Enjoys Heated Chase Elliott Encounters on Twitter
