Chase Elliott is facing challenges adapting to the Next Gen car as he competes in NASCAR’s playoff Round of 12, raising concerns about his chances to advance further. Despite having multiple wins at key playoff tracks including the Charlotte Roval and Kansas, Elliott’s recent performance under the Gen 7 era has shown a noticeable dip, putting pressure on his campaign.
Evaluating Elliott’s Performance on Playoff Circuits Since Next Gen Debut
Among the tracks in the Round of 12, Elliott boasts two victories at the Charlotte Roval and one at Kansas, though he has yet to win at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, the site of this week’s race. While this record might appear solid, a closer look at Elliott’s results at these venues during the Next Gen car era, beginning in 2022, reveals he has not succeeded in reaching victory lane on any of these circuits.
This raises the question of whether Elliott’s struggle is due to circumstances or if the new car does not suit his particular driving style and race strategy. Elliott himself acknowledges the challenge this part of the playoffs always presents but notes added complexities this season.
This is a really tough round historically, always has been,
Elliott said on the Racing Report with Chris Weaver podcast.
I think whoever makes it to the Round of Eight—really, any of the eight that advance out of the Round of 12—have a chance to win the championship.
So yeah, this one’s tough, and it’s always been a lot of fun. But the tracks have changed this year [one example: the Roval has a new Turn 7], and I think that’ll make it have a little bit of a different feel.
How Elliott Approaches the Round of 12 Challenge
Elliott views the Round of 12 as a stage where consistency and winning are crucial. He emphasizes that without a victory, every race demands flawless execution.
There will be no having bad days, unless you win,
Elliott said.
If you get a win early, sure, you can go crash in the next two if you want, right? But from a points perspective, by itself, there is no room for error.
Though fans and analysts note Elliott’s lack of wins on these tracks in the Next Gen era, Elliott stresses his team’s strong pace across all rounds. He asserts their focus remains on putting themselves in winning positions, regardless of previous setbacks.
I think for us, though, the mindset is to try and put yourself in position to win races,
he said.
And that’s just kind of where we’re at. We have to go out and push and put ourselves in those positions to try and win. And if they work, then great. And if they don’t, then I think that you did all you could to try and make that happen.
Driving the No. 9 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 for Team Hendrick, Elliott is currently positioned seventh in the playoff standings, holding a slim five-point lead above the tentative cutoff for advancing to the Round of 8. This narrow margin highlights the urgency for improved results as the competition intensifies.
Elliott’s Mixed Start to the Playoffs
The opening Round of 16 displayed a spectrum of outcomes for Elliott. He finished 17th in the initial race at Darlington but rebounded with a strong third place at Gateway. This recovery was critical after a severe crash at Bristol sidelined him with a 38th-place finish, yet his accumulated points were sufficient to advance into the next playoff stage.
Steve Letarte, former crew chief for Hendrick Motorsports and now an analyst, expressed measured confidence in Elliott’s chances despite his struggles on Next Gen tracks.
[Elliott] was the driver that I was concerned about, whether they were going to be good enough [to advance out of the opening Round of 16] because he’s just been consistent, but not crazy fast,
Letarte stated on the NASCAR After The Race podcast following the Bristol event.
He’s the type of driver that’s going to have to be just faster in the next three races to continue.
Implications for Elliott’s Playoff Prospects and NASCAR Season
Chase Elliott’s difficulties adapting to the Next Gen car at pivotal playoff tracks have emerged as a significant hurdle to securing a championship run. While his past successes and competitive pace offer some reassurance, the absence of wins since the car’s introduction magnifies the challenge ahead. Elliott and Team Hendrick must now strategize effectively to maximize performance at New Hampshire and the remaining Round of 12 events, as points and playoff advancement hang in the balance.
The evolving nature of the tracks, alongside the increased competition and the highly restrictive margin for error in this playoff round, make Elliott’s Next Gen struggles a critical storyline to monitor as NASCAR’s season continues. How he adjusts could impact not only his own championship ambitions but also set a precedent for other drivers grappling with the Gen 7 vehicle transition.
