No matter how many times he’s asked, Chase Elliott is going to keep saying the same thing – he’s racing for a championship. No, it isn’t the Bill France Cup, the one that everyone is focused on. However, the NASCAR owners’ championship might be even more important in the grand scheme of things.
Chase Elliott has finished P11 or better in each of the six playoff races. After last week at the Roval, he eliminated Martin Truex Jr. 19 team from the owner’s playoffs. That’s important because all of the bonus money for the championship is with the owner’s playoffs.
Most years, the driver and owner champion are almost always the same. However, if Elliott keeps performing, he’s going to find himself with a chance at a big payday for his team in Phoenix.
“I’ve said this multiple times throughout however many weeks we’ve been going at it, I don’t feel any different,” Elliott said, via HendrickMotorsports.com. “My approach each week has been just like as if I was part of the show from a driver’s standpoint. It’s just really not any different. There’s a lot on the line on the owners’ side to the teams. It’s a really big deal.
“Thankful that between Josh (Berry), Jordan (Taylor) and Corey (LaJoie) and myself, we were able to get the car in on the owners’ side. That’s a meaningful thing. I’ve been just as motivated for that as I would have been if I had made the driver’s side. We’ve enjoyed the challenge of the first few weeks and hope we can continue to advance through the rounds. It’s a good opportunity and there’s still a lot of racing left this year. We’d like to continue to improve like we have been and get back up in the mix.”
Chase Elliott had a shot to win at the Roval
If it hadn’t been for an untimely caution flag, Chase Elliott likely wins at the Roval. Coming off of Stage 2, Elliott was thrown off the tire strategy for the leaders. It made it to where he had to pit at the start of Stage 3, while everyone else near the lead had already pitted at the end of the prior stage.
Elliott was right there. He had the speed and is an excellent Roval racer. It would have been exciting to watch him battle AJ Allmendinger for the win in that race. However, that elusive victory for 2023 is still just out of reach.
The races are counting down and it’s starting to get to the point where if the No. 9 team is going to win it has to be now. The Round of 8 at Las Vegas will be his next chance to win. Hendrick Motorsports is strong at this track as well as Homestead-Miami and Martinsville.
Does Chase Elliott have a shot at making the championship in Phoenix? What about winning the South Point 400 this weekend?