[autotag]Chase Elliott[/autotag] entered Las Vegas Motor Speedway with a nine-point deficit to the playoff cut-line, and the worst-case scenario took place. In Stage 2, Elliott found himself with severe damage after an incident with Martin Truex Jr. and Tyler Reddick, which caused the No. 45 car to flip down the front stretch. As a result, the Hendrick Motorsports driver left with a 52-point deficit.
After the event, Elliott addressed the playoff-altering wreck with Reddick and Truex, which has essentially put him in a must-win situation over the next two weeks at Homestead-Miami Speedway and Martinsville Speedway.
“[Tyler Reddick] was coming with a really big run on the top,” Elliott said. “I don’t think [Martin Truex Jr.] knew that, and he was kind of running as if we were two-wide. Once I recognized that there wasn’t going to be enough room, I bailed and there was just nowhere to bail. It was too late. I need to sit down and take a look at it.”
TYLER REDDICK FLIPS!
Reddick and Chase Elliott both crash. Reddick was able to drive his car to pit road but is done for the day. #NASCARPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/kBjgRp4TC0
— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) October 20, 2024
“I was, personally, just trying to get out of the situation, and it was just a little too late at that point. It sucks. Our No. 9 Chevy was really, really good there at the start. It was the best we’ve been out here in this new car, so it was just a bad day for that.”
Elliott arguably had a top-3 or top-5 car at Las Vegas, but he must focus on winning one of the next two races now. The driver of the No. 9 car has a best finish of 14th place at Homestead in the last three races, so it may come down to Martinsville in two weeks. Either way, the wreck has left Elliott in a massive hole, and it will be tough for him to claw himself out of it.
[lawrence-related id=18619,18577,18580]