Chase Elliott has firmly defended his longtime crew chief Alan Gustafson following a wave of criticism over recent strategy decisions during the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs. The 29-year-old Hendrick Motorsportsdriver spoke out in late August 2025 at media day in Charlotte, NC, emphasizing his loyalty amid growing frustration from fans and analysts after a challenging Round of 16 weekend at DarlingtonRaceway.
Elliott’s team struggled notably at Watkins Glen earlier in the playoff run, starting 20th and ending 26th due to a combination of car issues and pit strategy calls that failed to gain advantageous track position. The fallout triggered intense scrutiny on Gustafson, who has been Elliott’s crew chief since his 2016 rookie season.
Strategic Challenges and Race-Day Decisions Under Fire
During the Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington, Elliott showcased his trademark calculated aggression and adaptability but was unable to escape setbacks linked to pit timing and race conditions. On lap 41, he executed a pit stop alongside Brad Keselowski as part of a green flag strategy. Later, on lap 125, a near collision with Carson Hocevar tested his composure, yet he managed to maintain focus on the race’s broader challenges.
When a poorly timed caution disrupted race strategy, Elliott did not hesitate to accept shared responsibility, stating,
Image of: Chase Elliott
“And, you know, I can think of a couple situations, like recently, where we’ve made some decisions and just either haven’t caught the caution or did catch the caution at the wrong time, and that can be the difference in you literally looking like a hero and, you know, looking like you just did the dumbest thing ever. And that’s of no one’s fault, but that’s just the way the race unfolded.”
—Chase Elliott
On NASCAR Live, he elaborated on the misjudgments fans have criticized, defending the complexity of race strategy and the limitations of outside perspective.
“Yeah, I mean, I would say it’s… I would say it’s unfair, right? Because, like anything, when you’re not in the battle every week and you’re not firsthand in the fight, you know, odds are it’s hard to grasp the entire picture of everything that’s going on, or, umm, to have that type of information that they have in front of them, you know, throughout a race.”
—Chase Elliott
Demonstrating Resilience Despite Setbacks
Throughout these challenges, Elliott’s technical skills and on-track instincts remained clear. Mid-race at Darlington during lap 188, as leaders made pit stops, he took the opportunity to lead briefly before a pit call on lap 195 relinquished track position. In the race’s closing stages, Elliott and competitor Christopher Bell were among the lapped cars, but a free pass on lap 314 under caution helped Elliott regain a lap and maintain hopes for a top-10 finish.
Despite fan disapproval of Gustafson’s influence on these outcomes, Elliott acknowledged the shared responsibility and the ongoing learning curve his team faces.
“So, I just… I think you have to caution yourself with some of that, but, you know, without having the entire picture and totally being able to look at it from both sides of the coin, it’s really important to do that. And also, too, you know, I shoulder the load in trying to be better and knowing that I need to do a better job, and that’s not an excuse either. It’s a work in progress, and we’re doing it as a team, and we’ll keep our heads down and keep doing that.”
—Chase Elliott
Changes at Gateway: New Spotter for Elliott Amid Playoff Pressure
Heading into the next playoff race, the Enjoy Illinois 300 at World Wide Technology Raceway in Gateway, Missouri, Elliott will face another challenge as his spotter Trey Poole steps away temporarily for a family arrival. Tyler Deering, familiar from road course duties, will fill the role this weekend while also spotting for Jordan Anderson in the Xfinity Series.
Gateway has proven to be a difficult track for Elliott, where he has yet to crack the top 10 since its Cup Series debut in 2022. His best finish was 13th in 2024, and he missed the 2023 race due to suspension. Elliott expressed his frustration with the circuit, saying,
“I don’t have a key to Gateway. I wish I did. Maybe I’ll find one when I get there this time. And so I think sometimes it gets lost just how many races and how long 10 weeks is, and how much can change through that period of time. For me personally, it’s what can I do this week to be better when we get to the racetrack on Saturday? And how can my Saturday help us on Sunday?”
—Chase Elliott
Outlook for the Remainder of the NASCAR Playoffs
With nine playoff races left in the 2025 season, Elliott and his team are under intense pressure to improve after a difficult start to the postseason. While fans have voiced their discontent with Gustafson’s strategy calls, Elliott’s loyalty to his crew chief remains firm, underscoring the often unseen complexity behind NASCARrace decisions.
The upcoming Gatewayrace will test the team’s resilience with the new spotter adjustment and Elliott’s determination to break his poor track history. As the playoffs progress, Elliott’s ability to maintain composure and adjust amidst adversity will be critical in his quest to advance further and compete at the highest level for Hendrick Motorsports.
