Martinsville is a crowned jewel of NASCAR’s short track. Many seasoned drivers have looked forward to winning the ‘Grandfather Clock’ every year. But most of the time, fortune has favored drivers from a certain team. Ever looked closely at the winningest drivers at the Paperclip? King Richard Petty leads the pack with 15 wins, but Hendrick Motorsports is the winningest team here! Darrell Waltrip, Jeff Gordon, and Jimmie Johnson take the three spots after Petty. And, Waltrip’s 11 wins with Gordon’s 9 wins already surpass the record driver wins at the track. But last season’s race holds more vivid memories for the HMS team and fans.

Hendrick Motorsports’ 1-2-3 finish of April 7, 2024, led by William Byron, followed by Kyle Larson and Chase Elliott, holds a special inscription in the Paperclip’s history. As Elliott sits 6th in the standings with no wins this season, veteran and ex-teammate Jeff Gordon has come forth with a prophecy.

Gordon is confident in Chase Elliot’s abilities for a turnaround

Martinsville could be the perfect place for a comeback. With one win in his last 76 Cup starts, Elliott is hungry for a victory, and Martinsville might just be his shot. The short track has been kind to Elliott in the past. He finished second in last fall’s playoff race and third in the spring event, making him the only driver to finish in the top 10 in all Cup short-track races last season.

Jeff Gordon, now Vice Chairman of Hendrick Motorsports, remains confident despite Elliott’s recent struggles. Speaking after the Homestead race, Gordon shared his thoughts on the No. 9 team’s challenges and their potential to bounce back. “I feel like they came into the season with a lot of momentum as well and started strong, meaning you could just sense that they’ve got a lot of confidence and coming to the racetrack ready to go,” Gordon said.

“I think the last couple of weeks probably were a little bit frustrating for them. I think (Homestead) is probably going to be a little bit frustrating for them, too. But they’re a really solid team. Just a lot of depth and a lot of belief in one another. You know, you’ve got to get through the rocky times.… Again, it’s a high standard at Hendrick, what everybody brings, like (Kyle Larson’s) team did (winning Homestead),” he said, emphasizing how the team awaits comebacks.

Gordon’s words carry weight. He knows the pressure of racing at Hendrick, where the bar is sky-high. Even NASCAR champion Jeff Burton predicted Elliott would thrive after his Miami struggle, citing his consistency at short tracks like Martinsville. Elliott has also been vocal about the importance of short tracks. “If us having a race or if it’s the Rockingham case where those guys are taking Xfinity and Trucks over there, if that’s going to keep that place alive and keep it from shutting down or getting bulldozed, then I think that’s a victory for motorsports,” said Elliott to save them, a stance that contrasts with Denny Hamlin’s tire change complaints. But, Jeff Gordon does not need results straightaway, he feels the right mindset is the first thing that reflects well at HMS.

“And so a lot of times you’re really measuring yourself against the best that there are out there, and a lot of times that’s right in your own stable. So if you’re not achieving what you want to achieve, then you know you’ve got to go to work, and you know that you’re not meeting expectations. So those guys have high expectations, Alan (Gustafson), Chase. It’s not unusual for them to get down a little bit on, ‘Hey, this isn’t good enough,’ but I’ve seen them react really well and positively to that too,” concluded Gordon.

Elliott’s season started with a bang, winning the Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium on February 2, marking his first Clash victory and setting high hopes for the year. But since then, it’s been a bumpy ride, and the pressure is on. He’s a fan favorite, having been named the Most Popular Driver in the Cup Series from 2018 to 2024, a title his father, Bill Elliott, held 16 times. But lately, Elliott’s performances have been underwhelming, especially after a frustrating race at Homestead-Miami Speedway last weekend. Elliott and his No. 9 team have been struggling to meet the high standards set by Hendrick Motorsports, where teammate Kyle Larson won the Cup race as well as the Truck race at Homestead.

But we can safely say that Elliott’s short-track racing skills are far from deteriorating after witnessing his win at the Madhouse. Fans are holding their breath, hoping Martinsville can spark a revival for Elliott. With Gordon’s backing and a strong track record at the half-mile oval, could this weekend be the turning point Elliott needs to silence the doubters?

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Elliott eyes redemption at Martinsville

The Hendrick Motorsports driver had a tough weekend, finishing fifth after leading 81 laps, but a penalty on Lap 169 under caution for not entering pit road single-file left him frustrated  NASCAR’s Elton Sawyer explained the call on SiriusXM Radio, saying, “If we’re under green flag conditions… they’ll run as wide around 3 and 4 as they can at speed so then they have to get slowed down to pit road speed by the time they get to the yellow line… we can see cars that will enter side by side.” The penalty was harsh, and Elliott’s crew chief, Alan Gustafson, wasn’t happy either.

Despite the setback, Elliott is staying positive. “I’m proud of our team, the speed we had… I hate that we didn’t get the finish we deserved, but we’ll go to Martinsville and try to put on a show,” he told reporters after the race. Martinsville is a track where Elliott shines, as he finished second in last fall’s playoff race and third in the spring. He was the only driver to finish in the top 10 in all Cup short track races last season, making this weekend a big opportunity.

After the Homestead disappointment, Elliott is hungry to turn things around. With his team’s support and a track that suits his style, Martinsville could be where he gets back on track and gives fans something to cheer about. But if you want to revise the Grandfather Clock winners, here you go!