Chase Elliott and Hendrick Motorsports appeared to reach their strongest form late in the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series, despite securing two wins earlier in the year. Elliott ended the season with 19 top-10 finishes and 11 top-five placements but felt it took the entire campaign to regain the championship-level performance he demonstrated from 2018 to 2022.
As preparations ramp up for the 2026 season, which is beginning soon amid fan frustration over the weather-driven rescheduling of the Cook Out Clash to a Monday start, Elliott is hopeful his late-season momentum will carry over into the new year.
Reflecting on Race Results and Early Season Challenges
Elliott pointed out that success in the season’s early races came in part from avoiding wrecks, which influenced the numerical data on his performance.
“Obviously, the Clash [Elliott won the 2025 edition of the Cook Out Clash] went really well, which doesn’t have anything to do with the numbers,”
he explained to ESPN.
“But that part went well. I thought some of the opening speedway races went well. Truthfully, I think some of the numbers were reflected by the fact that we didn’t get caught up in the wrecks. And that skews things, right, when you have fewer numbers there early in the season.”
Emphasizing Consistency Over Statistics in Defining Success
Rather than focusing on statistical comparisons, Elliott measures progress by how he and his team feel about their performance. He suggested that Hendrick Motorsports was closing in on its optimal form as the season progressed. The 2020 Cup Series champion shared,
“I thought we were getting closer, for sure. You always have high expectations of yourself and of your team, so it’s always tough for me to answer that.”
“I guess defining form, that’s tough. It’s always a ‘What have you done lately?’ That’s in life and certainly in sports. It’s more about putting yourself in position consistently and every week than it is the actual win.”
He added,
“You’re going to get your turn. You will get your opportunity.”
“It’s not always going to work out for you. … But if you put yourself there often enough, it will, and that’s more of what I want to see and what our definition of being in form is.”
Anticipation for Continued Growth in the 2026 NASCAR Season
With the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series about to begin, Elliott’s reflections underline the importance of steady improvement and persistence. His emphasis on consistently positioning himself for success suggests that both he and Hendrick Motorsports intend to build on their end-of-2025 performance trends. Fans and analysts alike will be watching closely to see if this late-season surge can translate into a strong start and sustained competitiveness in the coming season.
