With a fractured tibia and a one-race hiatus under his belt, Chase Elliott has been absent from seven races and appears to have thrown a spanner in the works. Since his return, there’s been no marked uptick in his speed or strategy. However, those firmly in the Hendrick Motorsports camp have not lost hope and believe he can still turn the tide, clinching a victory in one of the remaining three races of the Cup Series regular season.

Moreover, it’s not just the loyal fans; even the NASCAR insiders are all in, buzzing with speculation on how Chase Elliott might pull a rabbit out of the hat to secure a spot in the top-16 at the imminent race on the hallowed grounds of Indianapolis International Speedway.

“Chasing the stage points doesn’t make a lot of sense,” a NASCAR source says, taking a dig at Elliott’s projected top-16 entrance

The face of NASCAR, Chase Elliott, is evidently trying really hard to find his footing, and his post-race interviews paint a picture of a racer battling frustration. Yet the grapevine suggests that NASCAR’s inner circle may have cracked the code to Elliott’s triumph in the upcoming Indianapolis showdown.

A recent video released by NASCAR showcased analyst Todd Gordon sketching out potential strategies that might see Elliott cruise to victory, potentially at the expense of big racing names like Joe Gibbs’s grandson. This move underscores the possibility that NASCAR’s power players are rooting for Elliott’s playoff success, perhaps as a card up their sleeve to bolster viewership.

Todd Gordon opined, “For Chase Elliott, chasing the stage points doesn’t make a whole lot of sense, but for people like Ty Gibbs, Michael Mcdowell, and AJ Allmendinger, they are close enough to that cut line that they will, I think, extend themselves beyond the stage to take the stage points if they are in a good position.”

Gordon’s stratagem advocates for Chase Elliott to adopt a tactical short-pit during the stage, tread the pit road with minimal traffic, ensure a smooth exit, and strategically outpace competitors, Ty Gibbs included, as they ardently amass their stage points.

Moreover, Gordon shed light on another tactical masterstroke that might pave the way for Elliott and his crew on the track, one that stands independent of Ty Gibbs, the grandson of Joe Gibbs.

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An alternative ace up the sleeve for No. 9 Chevy to clinch victory

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With Chase Elliott’s pursuit of stage points looking more like a fruitless endeavor given his current 22nd-place standing and trailing by 55 points from the playoff’s threshold, Gordon suggests a tactic involving playing their cards right during caution stops.

“Another scenario that plays out on the road courses for crew chiefs is the caution that happens three, four, five, or eight laps before the final fuel window opens—that stop that could happen at 44 when you needed to get to 48. What do you do with that? I think in Chase’s scenario, you come, you take tires, you fill up your fuel, and you may actually come at one to go and stuff yourself full again and hope that you get enough cautions to build you back into that extending to the end.”

Gordon insinuated that were he at the helm, he’d roll the dice to witness the unfolding drama, cognizant of the fact that if the Indianapolis escapade doesn’t pan out, Watkins Glen awaits them the ensuing week.

Should Chase Elliott not cut the playoffs, it would be akin to pulling the rug out from under NASCAR, given the sheer magnetism he holds for the viewers. Moreover, his on-track duels, notably with adversaries like Denny Hamlin, have been the cynosure of all eyes in recent history. The absence of such face-offs would unquestionably be a bitter pill for both NASCAR and its legion of fans to swallow.

Read More: “There Is Nothing Telling Me This Team Is Ready To Go Win a Race” – NASCAR Legend Bashes Chase Elliott As He Declares the Road Course King Has Lost It’s Crown