With the NASCAR playoffs approaching in just four races, Chase Elliott highlighted the significant edge provided by the regular season championship. The Hendrick Motorsports driver emphasized that securing this advantage offers a valuable fallback, which can be crucial given the unpredictable nature of the postseason.
Following his victory at Atlanta, Elliott held the points lead, demonstrating remarkable consistency. Interestingly, Kyle Larson, another top competitor, expressed surprise upon learning he had dropped to third place in the standings, despite winning two additional races compared to Elliott.
The regular season champion receives a 15-point boost for the playoffs, a benefit Elliott last experienced in 2022. Although his postseason performance that year saw a decline, the accumulated playoff points helped him advance to the Championship Four.
How Playoff Points Impact Chase Elliott’s Title Chances
Discussing the importance of banking playoff points, Elliott shared his perspective on having a cushion going into the postseason.
“They’d be huge for sure. I’ve been on both sides of the coin there. There have been years where I feel like we’ve not had many playoff points, and we’ve had a couple of years where we’ve had a bunch. I promise it is a lot easier when you have a lot in the bank.”
—Chase Elliott, NASCAR driver
“The way the system is, [with] so many things kind of being out of your control, it’s nice to have something to fall back on,” he added.
—Chase Elliott, NASCAR driver
Currently, Elliott leads William Byron by a narrow margin of four points. At Dover Motor Speedway, he earned his first pole position of the season and dominated for 238 laps before a pit stop error relegated him to a sixth-place finish. Despite his strong efforts, Elliott’s six playoff points remain well below Byron’s 12 and Larson’s 23.
The next challenge for Elliott is at Iowa Speedway, where he will compete in a 350-lap race on the 0.875-mile short track. Fans can watch the event live on Sunday, August 3rd, at 3:30 PM ET via USA Network and stream it on HBO Max.
Chase Elliott Supports Traditional Full-Season Points System
Beyond the current championship chase, Elliott recently spoke on the debate around NASCAR’s playoff format. He expressed support for the traditional points system that rewards the season’s most consistent driver, akin to Formula 1’s approach.
“The system would be just fine if you just had a full season. And if somebody runs away with it, so what? Let’s celebrate the fact that somebody ran away with it, that somebody was just that good. Motorsports does not have to be like everybody else to be successful. And I’ll stand by that til I get done,”
—Chase Elliott, NASCAR driver
Elliott’s endorsement of the classic system earned praise from Hall of Famer Mark Martin, who has been critical of the playoff structure. NASCAR has formed a committee to consider changes for the 2026 playoffs, but no decisions have yet been finalized.
Chase Elliott’s reflections on the regular season advantage underline its potential to shape the postseason narrative. As the playoffs near, this cushion of points could prove decisive in a sport often influenced by variables beyond the driver’s control.
