What started out as an unfortunate series of lackluster performances has turned out to be the worst nightmare for Chase Elliott as we head to the playoff rounds. While the driver missed out on 7 races, owing to an unfortunate accident, and a suspension, for the first time in his career, the 2020 Cup Series champion has missed the playoffs.

Last week’s Superspeedway race was the Hendrick Motorsports driver’s last shot to make the cutline. But when the checkered flag was waved at the 2.5-mile track, Elliott was 3 positions short, making his playoff entry a thing of dreams.

However, NASCAR legend and 3-time Daytona conqueror believes that there’s more to the story than just the HMS star’s failed attempt to make the 16.

NASCAR great opens up about Chase Elliott’s missed opportunity, revealing the harsh reality

Chase Elliott, who needed a win to get his playoff berth, just couldn’t capitalize on Saturday as he finished 4th. While the driver missed the playoffs for the very first time in his 7 seasons in NASCAR’s elite division, his top-five finish got HMS closer to the owner’s championship.

But above that there’s even more that meets the eye as the 1999 NASCAR Winston Cup Champion, Dale Jarrett detailed it on NBC’s Motor Mouths show. While the whole community was amazed to see the driver miss the opportunity, Jarrett, on the contrary, chimed in with the positive news.

Reflecting on his bleak 2023 season, the veteran mentioned how the #9 looked out of style. “I think the biggest thing for Chase Elliott and Alan Gustafson is that they figure out a way to become more competitive, I think that’s the biggest thing. For the past 6 weeks, basically, they have to try to figure out and manufacture ways to put themselves in a position to win a race,” said Jarrett. 

To add to his point, he said, “And you know that’s not their style, they need to figure out how to make their cars better and faster for Chase to challenge for wins by running well not trying to manufacture something.”

Unlike most people who were citing the driver’s missed chances, Jarrett, being the veteran of the sport, took a different approach. He said, “If they can’t do that, somewhere in these next 10 races, how do you look at 2024 and start thinking about making a championship run? That doesn’t just happen, so I think this is a really good time for them to take away that, ‘hey, we can make a difference in this, and let’s see what we can do’.” 

Furthermore, the veteran champion said the obvious. Taking a blunt approach, he said, “You’re talking about the playoffs that started everybody stepping their game up and you think you’re going to go you know, work your way magically through all of this? I think it’s going to be a tough tax but you’ve got to do, you have it for yourself, for your team, and for your sponsor.” 

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For one, to race in Stock Car Racing’s top-tier division is a golden opportunity and to make it into its higher stages is simply not one for the average. But for 2020 Cup Series champ, Chase Elliott, the 2023 season has been far from perfect. The driver had to pay dividends for the 7 lost opportunities as he simply got outscored by Bubba Wallace, who made his first-ever Cup Series playoffs. 

While the 23XI Racing driver got into the 16 in his #23 Toyota, another Toyota driver just couldn’t make it big in his rookie season. Ty Gibbs, the reigning Xfinity Series champion, did not have sufficient steam to make it big as he fell short, finishing his 2023 campaign at the 18th spot, well outside the cut-line.

WATCH THIS STORY: Chase Elliott apologizes to Rick Hendrick and team for losing, after being confused by HMS’ decision 

To make things worse, Joe Gibbs’ grandson is the sole Toyota driver to miss the playoffs. Another disappointment came when Daniel Suarez of Trackhouse Racing succumbed to the pressure, unable to grab the playoff opportunity when it mattered the most.

Even Elliott’s teammate Alex Bowman got written off as he finished the regular season in the 19th spot, even behind the rookie Gibbs. On the whole, 2023 was beyond anyone’s predictions, as even veteran drivers who predicted Elliott to make it bit their tongues as we head to Darlington for this week.