NASCAR Community Rallies Behind Chase Elliott in Defense as NBC Reveals His Embarrassment

The most popular driver of the Cup Series shined throughout the 2022 season. Chase Elliott entered this year after five wins and a Championship 4 appearance in Phoenix. Many fans of Hendrick Motorsports’ #9 driver were certain of his championship this year. But unexpected circumstances entirely derailed Elliott’s performance. For the first time in his Cup career, the #9 driver failed to make the playoffs. Now, NASCAR broadcaster NBC has shared a post that highlighted another first in the past six years. And it is another unflattering one.

Hendrick Motorsports’ No. 9 driver could not live up to his 2022 winning form

Ever since his first Cup win in Watkins Glen in 2018, Chase Elliott won at least two races every year. This season, however, the #9 HMS driver’s streak came to an end. He came across multiple impediments that prevented him from celebrating in the victory lane. The most obvious was his tragic snowboarding accident, which led to six races being missed in the spring. That was followed by a race suspension a few months later for an on-track incident with Denny Hamlin.

Furthermore, HMS’s #9 crew chief Alan Gustafson was also suspended for multiple races when his car failed inspection in the spring Phoenix race. Understandably, their team did not get an opportunity to acquire the consistency required to win races or qualify for the playoffs. Nonetheless, Chase Elliott raced for the owner’s playoff instead, going as far as the Round of 8. In the end, though, he finished 17th in the drivers’ standings without winning a single race. And that made him a member of a group that he certainly wouldn’t want to be a part of!

Sadly enough, Elliott’s winless season made him one of the 10 Cup drivers who secured a win in 2022 but failed to grab the checkered flag this year. Out of the 2022 race winners, Kevin Harvick and Kurt Busch have retired. But eight drivers still remain who will attempt to rectify this in the 2024 season. NASCAR on NBC even took to Twitter to post about the same, wondering which of them will return to their winning form after this off-season! Having been a regular victory lane visitor in the past, this new accolade is sure to make Elliott downcast.

Watch this story: Richard Childress Puts His Stars Forward as the Fight for Chase Elliott’s Throne Begins

Although many of them showed immense potential this season, Chase Elliott remained the fan favorite. Elliott, too, is eager to regain his previous racing flair. His fans, meanwhile, have no doubt that he will do exactly that. 

Chase Elliott predicted to come back strong at the 2024 Daytona 500 by his supporters

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Chase Elliott would be the first to admit that his performance did not meet the high level of standards he set over the years. The 27-year-old’s team will now be spending time evaluating their past errors so that they are better prepared when the 2024 season begins in February. 

Reported by nascar.com, Elliott recently said, “I think we’ve learned a lot about ourselves and the things that I need to do better. For me, I’ve learned a lot about myself and just areas that I want to improve in, and trying to tackle a lot of that this weekend, you know, and get a good head start on things we want to improve upon for next year.”

And his mammoth fanbase united in the comment section of NBC’s post to support his sensational comeback in a few months. “Chase Elliott is coming back with a vengeance.” Another user had no second thoughts over which driver would get back to victory lane as they tweeted, “Chase No. 9 of course!”

One fan even declared his ensured victory right in the opening round at the Daytona 500. “Elliott wins the Daytona 500 [Checkered flag emoji] #di9”

Another estimated one of the two winless drivers from Hendrick Motorsports to conquer the racetracks in the coming year. “Alex [Bowman] and Chase I mean when you drive for HMS you’re expected to win” But the overwhelming majority stuck to their favorite racer to utter these words with a resounding finality, “Elliot, that’s it”. 

For now, at least, it would seem like a long wait for Chase Elliott fans till that February 18 season opener.

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