The 2023 Cup Series is steadily drawing to a culmination with just three races left in the regular season. For many NASCAR this news is assuredly a source of a breather as they position themselves comfortably way above the cut-line of the playoffs. However, for drivers like Chase Elliott, the remaining three races are the fading beacon of hope in order to enter the post-season.
The Hendrick Motorsports driver seems to have been stuck in a slump, from where the escape seems to be unattainable, as he struggles in his precarious position. Although it is still early to determine the fate of the driver and his languishing hopes for the post-season. Moreover, it seems that Dale Earnhardt Jr would like to preserve his faith in Elliott in the remaining races, and this was apparent in his recent interview.
Dale Earnhardt Jr gambles on Chase Elliott’s hope for victory in Indianapolis
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The Cup Series race at the Brickyard has surely promised to deliver a performance that will be remembered by the audience for ages to come. On Sunday, the various formats of motorsports are set to collide together on the tracks of Indianapolis, as drivers from all across the world are set to take their seats behind the wheel. This news is surely a reason to rejoice among the fans, but it is also a reason to fret about, especially for Chase Elliott.
Elliott who has been voted as the most popular driver for five seasons after Dale Earnhardt Jr relinquished the crown post-retirement, has seemingly lost his luster in the ongoing season. Apart from struggling with bodily injuries and race suspension, the driver has failed to carve his way out and secure a podium finish to ensure a post-season berth. Elliott even struggled to find speed on the road courses which has always been his forte and was forced to renounce the crown of being the ‘king of road courses’.
The hope of achieving a podium finish on the track of Indianapolis seems to be daunting for Elliott, given the star-studded lineup for the race. However, it seems that Dale Earnhardt Jr seems to hope against hope for Elliott, and this was evident in his interview with 13 News.
Junior expressed, “Well, we are closing in on the playoffs. There are a few races left for Chase Elliott, one of our sport’s most popular drivers, if not the most popular driver to try to win his way into the playoffs. I don’t think that he can do it on points, so he is git to win one of these races and then it will be interesting to see how he does this weekend.”
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However, Dale Jr is one of the few remaining voices who are still hopeful of Elliott’s resurgence. Most others believe otherwise.
NASCAR Insider gives a reality check on Elliott’s playoff hopes
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A win by Chase Elliott in the remaining three races is surely an improbable but not impossible task. However, given the performance of Elliott in the ongoing season, the hopes of playoffs seem to get fainter with each passing day. Apart from Dale Jr, many of the NASCAR insiders seem to have given up on their hopes of the No.9 Chevrolet driver making a place in the playoffs.
The skepticism was apparent in the voice of NBC’s pit road reporter Kim Coon. She emphasized the need to perform to their fullest capacity and to churn out a victory in the remaining three weeks. She expressed, “I think technically, mathematically he could still squeeze in but every single thing will have to go right for this team which has not been the trend this season and every single thing would have to go wrong for all of the other teams that are kind of within striking distance of one of those playoffs spots.”
“I think it is going to have to be a Do or Die must win over the next three weeks for this team. They’ve proven in the past that they can perform under pressure, and they’ve had their backs against the wall, but I just have not seen that kind of strength and performance from them this season.”
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With the race at Indianapolis just around the corner, Chase Elliott has put in every bit of his effort to secure a win and in order to enter the playoffs. Will that be possible, only the race on Sunday will be able to answer.