Under the bright lights of Bristol Motor Speedway, Chase Elliott’s quest for the 2024-25 NASCAR title faced a critical test on Saturday night. During the playoff elimination race, Elliott’s hopes hung precariously as an unexpected tire issue, combined with on-track chaos, threatened to end his championship run in Tennessee.
With fewer than 200 laps remaining, Elliott was caught up in heavy traffic, forced high on the track. John Hunter Nemechek seized an opening, causing contact that sent Elliott’s No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports car crashing into the wall after 311 laps. This marked his second DNF of the season at a pivotal moment in the playoffs, putting his position in the Round of 12 at risk.
How Elliott Narrowly Advanced Despite the Near Elimination
Saturday’s race was the first elimination event of the playoffs, meaning Elliott’s standing was extremely vulnerable. Although no other driver could surpass him in points outright, the possibility of an upset win by a contender outside the cutline loomed large, which could have immediately knocked Elliott from contention.
Among the drivers capable of upsetting Elliott’s postseason chances, only four had realistic winning prospects late in the race. Teammate Alex Bowman posed the greatest threat but ultimately failed to secure the victory. When Austin Cindric ran into trouble, Elliott gained some breathing room, securing his advancement to the next playoff round.
The event was further complicated by the debut of an unfamiliar right-side tire compound, which displayed unusual wear during the night race. Despite this complication, Elliott refused to lay blame on the tire, instead focusing on how teams prepared their cars. Reflecting on the new tire, Elliott said, “I think it’s fine,” but acknowledged the difficulty understanding the situation immediately after the crash.
“If you give these teams the opportunity to set the cars up knowing the tire wear was going to be this high, you would probably see an entirely different race. So let’s not blame the tire yet.” —Jeff Gluck, NASCAR Reporter
“My quick thought is if you give these teams an opportunity to set the cars up knowing that the tire wear was going to be this high, you would probably see an entirely different race. So let’s not blame the tire yet.” —Chase Elliott, Driver
The Impact of New Tire Compound on Teams and Race Strategy
The new Goodyear right-side tire, introduced to encourage more aggressive racing by wearing faster, was designed to last under 100 laps during green flag runs. However, in Friday’s practice sessions with warmer daytime conditions, the tires performed better than expected, allowing teams to make long runs of 50 laps or more without major degradation.
Once night fell and temperatures dropped—air temperature to 71 degrees and track surface around 89 degrees—the track conditions shifted dramatically. Tires began to develop cord issues after as few as 20 laps, surprising crews across the garage. The sudden deterioration made on-the-fly adjustments challenging to manage and affected race dynamics significantly.
Despite the unexpected tire issues, Elliott maintained that the primary problem was a lack of preparedness in car setups for this tire wear pattern. Teams had no prior indication of how drastically the tire would wear overnight, which contributed to the difficulties faced during the race.
Looking Ahead: Elliott’s Strategy for New Hampshire and Beyond
With the Bristol disappointment behind him, Chase Elliott now turns to the Round of 12 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Entering the race sitting five points above the playoff cutoff line, Elliott must push hard to expand his lead and avoid another close call. The next races will be crucial for him, as the margin for error continues to shrink in this high-stakes postseason.
As the playoffs progress, managing equipment reliability and adapting to evolving track conditions remain top priorities for Elliott and Hendrick Motorsports. The intensity of the 2024-25 campaign promises more challenges ahead, but Elliott’s ability to stay in contention will depend on how well his team navigates these obstacles.
