Chase Elliott expressed frustration with the No.9 team’s pit strategy during the Mobil 1 301 race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, emphasizing that a different approach focusing on pit timing for track position could have improved his final result. The Hendrick Motorsports driver faced challenges throughout the race but believed that strategic decisions impacted his ability to compete for the win.
Elliott started the race toward the back of the pack but steadily climbed to a top-10 position by the conclusion of Stage 2. Throughout the event, the Ford drivers from Team Penske excelled at managing their tires, which helped them maintain leading positions consistently. The race’s dynamics shifted late in the final stage when Cody Ware’s spin brought out a caution period.
During this caution, most leaders chose to pit for fresh tires, while Elliott, along with Josh Berry, elected to stay on track. At that moment, Elliott’s tires were already 12 laps old, which made it difficult for him to keep pace with Team Penske’s Joey Logano, who had newer rubber. Despite this, Elliott successfully defended against Christopher Bell and ultimately finished in fifth place.
Addressing the strategic choice after the race, Elliott shared his thoughts with NBC Sports:
“The day was good for the No. 9 Chevy team. Just hate we had to not pit for track position because you want to be up there in the mix. But the way it all worked out, we got some stage points there in Stage Two and got a good result with a top-five finish. We’ll go to Kansas (Speedway) and try it again. No, there’s no such thing as being safe in this deal. We’ll just lay it out there again next weekend and hope for the best.” – Chase Elliott, NASCAR Driver
Currently, Elliott holds seventh place in the playoff standings, maintaining a 14-point advantage over the cutoff. He is closely followed by Chase Briscoe, who trails by just two points. Among Hendrick Motorsports drivers, William Byron achieved a third-place finish at the same race and has moved up to second place in the playoff rankings. Ryan Blaney, who won the 301-lap event at New Hampshire, leads the standings and has secured a spot in the final eight of the playoffs.
Insight Into the Importance of Track Position in NASCAR Races
Chase Elliott recently spoke to Fox reporter Chris Weaver about the critical role that track position plays in race outcomes, especially in a highly competitive field. Elliott noted that the top contenders are closely matched in performance, meaning that holding or gaining the lead at key moments often decides the winner.
“That’s kind of the name of the game nowadays. Everybody’s pretty close and you know, you get those top five or six guys and throughout a race and you give them the lead at the right time, they’re probably going to win, you know. So, you just want to be in the mix there to have a shot,” – Chase Elliott, NASCAR Driver
Given the tight competition, Elliott understands that positioning on the track is essential to maximize winning chances. This insight reflects the strategic challenges drivers and teams face in managing tires, pit stops, and timing during races to remain contenders until the final laps.
Looking Ahead to the Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway
Following the race at New Hampshire, Elliott now prepares to compete in the Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway. The upcoming 267-lap race represents an opportunity for Elliott to increase his playoff standing, especially after finishing outside the top 10 in his last visit to Kansas. His most recent win at the track occurred in 2018, underscoring his desire to recapture that success in this year’s playoff run.
As Elliott and Hendrick Motorsports recalibrate their strategies, the focus remains on maximizing track position and timely pit decisions to contend with strong rivals such as Ryan Blaney, William Byron, and Team Penske drivers. The escalating intensity of the playoffs means that no driver can consider their position secure, and every race presents a new challenge.
