“They Conceded to Defeat”—Kyle Petty Claims Chase Elliott & HMS Aren’t the Best Road Course Contenders in Cup Series Anymore

In a recent episode of the NASCAR on NBC Podcast, Kyle Petty expressed his opinion about Chase Elliott and the Hendrick Motorsports (HMS) team, stating that they are no longer the dominant force in road course racing in the Cup Series. Petty’s comments have sparked a debate among fans and experts alike, as Elliott has been widely regarded as one of the best road course racers in recent years.

Petty’s comments came during a discussion about Elliott’s performance in the new Next Gen car. He acknowledged that Elliott was once the driver to beat on road courses, but believes that the dynamics have shifted since the introduction of the new car last year. During the conversation, host Nate Ryan stated, “It seems that he’s still good but I don’t know if we’d say he’s the best road course racer in the Cup Series now like we would have said a few years ago.”

Kyle Petty expresses disappointment with Chase Elliott – The Road Course King

Petty further elaborated on his point, highlighting Elliott’s past success on road courses. “We go back a couple of years before this car, he was the guy, man. He was the guy everywhere you went,” Petty said. “You put Chase Elliott in a car and he just got it done. I don’t know what they did or how he drove or what his secret was, but he just got it done.”

However, Petty noted that Elliott’s performance in the Next Gen car has been less impressive. He cited Elliott’s average finishes in road course races over the past two seasons to support his argument. “If you go back to last year and just take all of his road course finishes, he basically averaged a 9th- or 10th-place finish. If you go to the season before that, he averaged a 1st or 2nd place finish probably,” Petty stated.

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Kyle Petty is amused by Hendrick Motorsports’ strategic move at Sonoma Raceway

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During a recent race at Sonoma Raceway, Petty observed a strategic move by the HMS team that he found intriguing. Elliott and his teammate Kyle Larson were hovering in the 7th to 11th positions when the first caution came out. The team made a bold decision to stay out while most of the field pitted, which temporarily boosted Elliott’s track position.

Petty expected a fierce battle between Elliott, Larson, and the Toyota drivers, but it never materialized. The HMS drivers eventually fell back to their original positions. However, Elliott was the only one who hung on and finished 5th. “They said, we can’t win this thing, we’re just gonna get the best finish we can,” Petty remarked, adding, “They conceded to defeat at that point of time.”

He commended Elliott for holding off competitors and securing a top-5 finish but pointed out that it showcased a shift in Rick Hendrick’s organization’s road course performance.

Petty also hinted at the possibility that the Hendrick team might have learned something at Le Mans, as they recently participated in the iconic endurance race. He suggested that this knowledge might have influenced their decision-making and performance on road courses. The Next Gen car and the strategies employed by teams are continuously evolving, and Petty believes that the HMS organization needs to adapt to remain at the forefront of road course racing.

While Petty’s comments have stirred up debate, it’s important to note that opinions can vary in the world of motorsports. Elliott is a talented driver who has already achieved significant success in his young career. The upcoming races will provide further opportunities for him and the HMS team to prove their mettle on road courses and potentially regain their position as the top contenders in the Cup Series.

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