Chase Elliott’s win Saturday evening in Atlanta was the twentieth of his profession. However in contrast to many of the first 19 earlier wins, which have been subdued by NASCAR requirements and extra befitting of Elliott’s comparatively quiet character, Saturday’s triumph at EchoPark Speedway (previously Atlanta Motor Speedway) was far more animated and emotional.
On Sunday’s NASCAR: After the Race LIVE podcast, co-hosts Steve Letarte and Todd Gordon, together with visitor Kyle Petty, identified simply how a lot the win — which broke a 44-race winless streak, the longest of his profession — meant to Elliott, nearly as if it was the primary of his profession slightly than the twentieth.
“Once they bought (to Victory Lane), Chase waved him (crew chief Alan Gustafson) over, (Chase) bought him across the automotive, came visiting and gave him a hug,” Gordon mentioned. “I believed you noticed the true facet of Chase, embracing everyone, hugging him, giving him a excessive 5, taking the time to do this.
Elliott provides credit score the place it’s due: To crew chief Alan Gustafson
Saturday’s win was large not just for Elliott, but additionally for Gustafson. Until they’ve lived beneath a rock the final 12 months or so, absolutely they’ve heard the whispers and rumors that one or each of them had been on the new seat of probably being changed by Hendrick Motorsports if the winless streak continued.
“Be mindful there’s been a lot scrutiny on this 9 automotive and Chase Elliott,” Gordon mentioned. “You have a look at his general velocity for the 12 months, he’s seventh in velocity, he was fourth in factors or fifth in factors coming into this race, he’s second in factors proper now.
“You insert another driver’s identify right here and there’s not the scrutiny and hypothesis about ‘we have to make a change’ with the runs that they’ve had. However that’s what they’re beneath, that’s a part of why you’ve bought that Invoice Belichick sort of persona. However you bought to see that sort of eliminated right here with a spectacular win and we bought to see sort of ten-tenths of Chase Elliott. That’s the actual man.”
Now that Elliott’s place within the NASCAR Cup playoffs is assured with Saturday’s win, what kind of racing will we see from the motive force of the No. 9 going ahead?
“The place’s the 9 go from right here? That’s the million-dollar query for me,” Letarte mentioned. “44-race winless streak damaged, they’ve but to run outdoors the highest 20 all 12 months lengthy, they’re tremendous constant — I like consistency — however does the win and the berth within the playoffs permit them to be slightly extra freewheeling? Does that make them extra harmful to win? I’m unsure. The place do they go?”
The strain is off Elliott now
Gordon had a very good response to Letarte’s query.
“You noticed the sort of offload of emotion from Chase Elliott,” Gordon mentioned. “He wasn’t that very same sort of stoic, sort of inflexible individual that we’ve interviewed. We noticed him like actually be emotional and for Chase Elliot, that’s emotional.
“I believe that is nice for them, this removes that strain, that sort of undertone of when are we going to make a change, which is silly. (They’ve had the) greatest common end of anyone, they’ve been good, not nice, they placed on an important present right here.”
Elliott now has back-to-back races on the road race at Chicago (one top-five in two begins there) this Sunday, and the next week on the street course at Sonoma (4 top-fives and 6 top-10s in eight begins). Recognized for his street course prowess, he might earn wins at one or each.
“The Gen 6 automotive was astronomically nice in street programs,” Gordon mentioned. “He’s been good within the Subsequent Gen automotive and I believe there’s a chance for them to rattle off one other win or two.”
Petty then gave his two cents. “To carry everyone in and to hug the crew, that camaraderie that we’ve been by the fireplace and right here we’re, we’re popping out of the fireplace proper now,” he mentioned. “That was an enormous second however these two the place of a primary win at an enormous collection at a prime stage collection and your twentieth and to nonetheless have that pleasure is large.”
The place does Elliott go from right here?
Petty’s remark in a approach led to Letarte enjoying Satan’s Advocate about the place Elliott goes from right here. In any case, Saturday evening was only one win. There are nonetheless 18 races left on the schedule, together with the 10-race playoffs.
And regardless that Elliott is now lastly within the playoffs, there’s no assure that he’ll get by the primary, second and even third spherical of the playoffs to qualify for the Championship 4 title-deciding spherical.
“Chase Elliot’s common end in 2025 is 10.2,” Letarte mentioned. “That’s two spots higher than another driver. The dialog (all season lengthy) was when is he going to win?
“Look, I’m not prepared at hand him 5 extra trophies, however I’ll say what’s the quote, ‘Typically it’s worthwhile to hold a man down, hold a man pinned,’ like the place does this go from right here? I don’t know, possibly nowhere. It wouldn’t shock me if it goes nowhere, it wouldn’t shock me in the event that they win three of the following 5. I simply assume the automotive and the crew is shut sufficient.”
