“If I need two wins, he’s not on my list”: HMS legend delivers a reality check for Chase Elliott in NASCAR’s ‘flashy’ format

The NASCAR Cup Series Championship 4 is set after William Byron’s decisive win at Martinsville Speedway, while his Hendrick Motorsports teammate Chase Elliott fell short. Despite running a clean, consistent race, the No. 9 couldn’t outlast the No. 24, who led 304 of 500 laps to claim the final playoff berth.

Elliott has been one of the most consistent drivers all year, as he put in another strong showing at the Xfinity 500. He finished third, earning the third-most points. The result reinforced a growing narrative that the No. 9 team’s season is consistent, but lacks the late-race aggression needed in NASCAR’s win-driven playoff format.

That was highlighted by former Hendrick Motorsports crew chief and NBC analyst Steve Letarte during the NASCAR: Inside the Race podcast.

“They’re just really, really good and solid and just not flashy enough,” Letarte said. “In a flashy format, they’re not flashy enough. And I know that sounds crazy, but if you said, ‘Hey, I need one car that’s going to run in the top eight at these nine different racetracks,’ I’d be like, ‘I’ll take Chase Elliott.’ But if you said, ‘But I need two wins,’ I’m like, ‘Oh, no. If I need two wins, he’s probably not on my list.” (32: 35 onwards)

Steve Letarte went on to explain that Chase Elliott and his team had all the ingredients for a title push - composure, tire management, and consistency - but the system rewards results. Finishes of 18th at Las Vegas and 40th at Talladega in the Round of 8 left him in a must-win situation at Martinsville.

William Byron (L) and Chase Elliott at Martinsville Speedway. Source: Getty

Letarte added that before the Martinsville weekend, he fully expected the race to come down to Elliott, Ryan Blaney, and Denny Hamlin, three of the best on worn tires and in long green-flag runs. But as Byron’s late-season pace showed, the playoff format left no room for “almost.”

Meanwhile, the four drivers advancing to the Championship 4 are: Chase Briscoe, Hamlin, Byron, and Kyle Larson.

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“It stings, but I’m damn proud of our 9 group”: Chase Elliott reflects after missing Championship 4

Chase Elliott (R) with the Hendrick Motorsports crew at Pocono Raceway. Source: Imagn

Three of the past five Cup champions - Ryan Blaney (2023), Joey Logano (2022), and Chase Elliott (2020) - and Christopher Bell are all out of this year’s finale. After Sunday’s race, Elliott took to X to sum up his season with a mix of pride and frustration. He posted a couple of photos and wrote:

“Left it all out on the track yesterday and came up just short. It stings, but I'm damn proud of our 9 group for bringing it all season long! That's all you can ask for. We'll shoot for one more at Phoenix. I appreciate y'all's support this year 👊🏼 #di9”

After back-to-back tough seasons, Chase Elliott bounced back this year with the third-best average finish (12.2) in the league. He also finished inside the top 20 in 31 of 35 races, a mark nobody matched on the grid.

The No. 9 team’s recurring issue was track position. Poor qualifying runs and mid-race pit struggles, including uncontrolled tires and pit entry issues, left the Hendrick Motorsports driver buried in traffic. He will now go to Phoenix Raceway for the championship race.

Elliott’s only Cup Series win at the Arizona track came in his 2020 title-clinching run. Though he won’t be racing for the Bill France Cup this time, his record at the desert oval remains solid. With an average finish of 12.2, he’ll aim to end 2025 on a high note.

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Edited by Hitesh Nigam