Chase Elliott discussed the key moment in Sunday’s race at Dover Motor Speedway when crew chief Alan Gustafson opted for a two-tire pit stop during the Lap 340 caution caused by rain. At that point, Elliott was among six drivers remaining on the lead lap, having pitted only seven laps earlier. The decision to pit contrasted with Denny Hamlin’s team, which stayed out on older tires and ultimately won the race.
Elliott, who led the most laps in the event with 238 from the pole position, finished in sixth place. Reflecting on the outcome, he acknowledged that it is easier to identify mistakes after the fact but emphasized that reactions might have been harsh regardless of which team made the call.
Easy to look back on that and realize you made a mistake,
Elliott said, via Jeff Gluck of The Athletic.
But look, [if] we don’t come down pit road and the 11 [Hamlin] comes down pit road, then everybody’s fussing about that because the rest of them were going to pit. We decided to pit and the 11 stayed out and he happened to win the race. And of course, that’s going to get the same reaction. So, the point I’m trying to make is when you have all the answers to the test after it’s over, it’s really easy to sit back and look at what was the right thing to do and what wasn’t.
Challenges of Restart Strategy and Tire Management
Elliott further analyzed the difficult position that the teams faced during the restart. He questioned whether Hamlin could have effectively maintained his lead if both drivers had stayed out on worn tires, especially since cars with fresh tires would have lined up behind them. The uncertainty added complexity to the pit decision, with no clear advantage guaranteed.
Denny did a really good job holding off the tires behind [him]. Does he stay out if we stay out as well, knowing that [new] tires was going to line up right behind us on the second row and he didn’t have control of the restart? I don’t think they do. But maybe they do. Regardless, it is a tough spot to be in, and it went the way it went. We can’t change it, but we can certainly take some lessons from the day and from the weekend and try to apply that forward to put ourselves in positions like that more often.
—Chase Elliott
The Aftermath: Leadership and Lessons Moving Forward
Before Gustafson made the final call to pit, the team debated the decision. Gustafson later admitted to The Athletic that he regretted the choice to pit during that caution. Despite the disappointment of the finish, the race marked progress for Elliott and the No. 9 team. Elliott’s strong performance helped him seize the regular season points lead, surpassing his Hendrick Motorsports teammate William Byron.
Dominance like Elliott’s at Dover has been rare in the Next Gen era, highlighting a potential turning point for the driver. This momentum could be critical as the season progresses, particularly with the upcoming race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway where Elliott aims to leverage his recent success.
