Chase Elliott acknowledges that he and his team
“really deserved to be knocked out”
of the Chase Elliott Cup playoffs following a crash last weekend at Bristol, but he emphasizes that this second chance offers an opportunity to improve starting with Sunday’s race at New Hampshire. Elliott shared his thoughts on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio’s Sirius Speedway on Wednesday.
The incident occurred at Bristol when Elliott, trying to transition from the top lane to the bottom, collided with John Hunter Nemechek’s car. This contact forced Elliott into the wall, abruptly ending his race and resulting in a 38th-place finish. It marked his sixth time finishing outside the top 10 in the last eight races, putting his playoff status in serious jeopardy.
The High-Risk Move That Didn’t Pay Off
Elliott described the moment during the SiriusXM interview, saying,
“I just felt the urgency to get to the bottom and try to do what I could to save some tire. … It was a high risk, but I felt like it was a risk that I needed to try to take at that point in time in my head. Unfortunately, didn’t work out.”
The aggressive maneuver aimed to gain positions and preserve his car’s tires but resulted in a crash that nearly ended his championship hopes.
Playoff Danger and Emotional Toll of the Night
After the crash, Elliott found himself battling to avoid being eliminated in the playoff standings, especially as teammate Alex Bowman, who was just below the cutline, pushed hard for a win that could have knocked Elliott out. Reflecting on that moment, Elliott said,
“At that time, I thought our night, I thought our season was over, to be honest. I didn’t have a good grasp on where some of the other competitors below the cutline were running.”
He recalled a conversation with crew chief Alan Gustafson just after the crash, saying,
“Had a brief conversation with (crew chief) Alan (Gustafson) right when I got out of the car. I was like, ‘Man is that going to knock us out?’ He said, ‘Yeah, I think so.’ At that point, obviously, we’re just bummed.”
Elliott described the anxious wait as he watched the remaining race unfold, explaining,
“It took some time to kind of realize the situation and what it was going to take to knock us out. I got to watch it on TV with everybody else. It wasn’t the most pleasant hour and a half or so of my life watching, but it worked out, fortunately. Got really lucky with that, no question.”
Elliott Advances Despite Recent Struggles
Though his recent finishes have been inconsistent, Elliott secured enough points to move into the first playoff round. His steady performance, including a third-place finish at Gateway and a 17th place at Darlington, helped him maintain his position. However, the upcoming New Hampshire race presents a fresh challenge for Elliott and Hendrick Motorsports, an organization that has not won there since 2012.
Elliott’s past results at New Hampshire have been modest, with just three top-10 finishes in 11 starts on the one-mile track. Despite this, he remains determined to capitalize on his playoff opportunity and turn his season around.
Determined to Make the Most of Every Opportunity
Speaking with urgency and focus on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, Elliott admitted,
“I just feel like, yeah, you’re kind of in a spot where, ‘Man, we really didn’t deserve to be here based on the week before, let’s go and make the very most of it.’”
He views the playoff position as a chance to revive momentum and push hard through the next races.
“I just feel like there’s nothing to lose for us at this point. We’ve got to make something happen, get some life and get our heads down and just grind it out these next three weeks,”
Elliott added. He pointed out that this year has been challenging overall but found encouragement in the recent Gateway performance. He sees parallels between Gateway and New Hampshire tracks that give him hope for a better showing.
Regarding the upcoming race, Elliott said,
“I think New Hampshire has some similarities to Gateway, so I’m looking forward to see how we stack up in that regard.”
Outlook for Elliott’s Playoff Campaign
As the Cup playoffs progress, Elliott faces immense pressure to improve results and secure a deeper run. His ability to bounce back from adversity, including the Bristol crash and inconsistent finishes, will be critical not only for his own championship hopes but also for Hendrick Motorsports, which aims to reclaim success at difficult tracks like New Hampshire. The upcoming races will test the resilience of Elliott and his team as they strive to capitalize on this second chance in the playoffs.
