Chase Elliott’s NASCAR Cup race at Bristol abruptly ended after 311 laps following a collision that sent his No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet into the outside wall. This Bristol event marked the first elimination race in the playoffs, making the timing of Elliott‘s second DNF this season especially critical as he fought to maintain his position in the championship hunt.
The incident started after Elliott was shuffled out of line and attempted to return to the bottom lane, with John Hunter Nemechek closing in rapidly. Contact occurred, ending Elliott’s race and throwing him onto the playoff bubble.
Playoff Pressure Intensifies as Elliott Faces Threats on the Cut Line
Following the crash, Elliott’s status was in jeopardy since a win from any driver below the playoff cut line could push him out of contention. Of the four drivers who might have threatened Elliott’s position, only his Hendrick Motorsports teammate Alex Bowman was realistically in contention during the race. Bowman did not secure a victory, and Elliott’s relief grew when Austin Cindric encountered problems, moving Cindric onto the playoff bubble instead.
Elliott’s Perspective on the Crash and Confusion Over Standings
After the incident, Elliott was briefly treated in the infield care center and was initially unclear about his points standing. He later explained what happened during the crash:
“The No. 22 [Joey Logano] got position on me. I thought I was doing the smart thing just trying to get back to the bottom. I guess I thought I was clear back down in line. I visually saw the gap, so I just tried to get back in line and I got a huge shot from behind. I’m not sure if the No. 42 [Nemechek] got pushed in there [by Denny Hamlin] or he wasn’t expecting me to come back to the bottom or what the reasoning was, but nonetheless, it happened and it’s done.”
—Chase Elliott, NASCAR driver
Post-Race Standings and What Lies Ahead for Elliott
As the playoffs moved into the Round of 12 with points reset, Elliott found himself seventh in the standings, just five points above the elimination threshold. Having won the NASCAR Cup title in 2020, Elliott’s narrow margin places him in a tense position where every upcoming race will be crucial to prolong his championship pursuit.
The Bristol elimination race underscored the fraught nature of the playoff system and heightened scrutiny on driver strategies and incidents. For Elliott, the challenge remains to navigate the remaining rounds with precision to avoid elimination and keep his title hopes alive.
