Chase Elliott’s notable NASCAR top-20 streak, which lasted for 26 races, came to an end at Watkins Glen on Sunday. Entering the NASCAR Cup Series race at Watkins Glen, Elliott had maintained top-20 finishes in all 23 races of the 2025 season, a streak that began in October 2024 at Homestead-Miami.
Details of the Streak-Ending Race and Its Impact
Despite Watkins Glen being a track where Elliott has twice tasted victory, the No. 9 team experienced a difficult race, resulting in a 26th-place finish in the Go Bowling at the Glen event. This poor result caused Elliott to lose 24 championship points to points leader William Byron and dropped his margin behind Byron to 42 points.
“Chase Elliott has finished top 20 in every single race this season.He runs 24th with the laps winding down.I never would’ve guessed Watkins Glen would be the troublemaker.” — Eric Estepp, NASCAR analyst
Elliott now trails Byron in the points race for the Cup Series regular-season championship and holds a 39-point lead over third-place driver Denny Hamlin.
Overview of Elliott’s Recent Performance and Season Outlook
The 2020 Cup Series champion has been remarkably consistent throughout recent seasons, despite only securing three wins since October 2022. In 2024, Elliott started the season strong with 19 straight top-20 finishes before a 21st-place result at the Chicago Street Course ended that streak. During the 2025 season so far, Elliott has claimed one victory and currently stands sixth in the playoff standings after Watkins Glen.
Looking ahead, Elliott is preparing to compete at Richmond Raceway on August 16, where he aims to rebound from the setback and continue his pursuit of the championship.
Context About the Reporter and Coverage
Samuel, a NASCAR reporter for Yardbarker since February 2024, has been providing coverage of Elliott and other drivers this season. He is a member of the National Motorsports Press Association and covers other sports topics including Arkansas Razorback basketball. His insights offer valuable context on Elliott’s consistency and challenges during the current NASCAR season.
