[autotag]Chase Elliott[/autotag] didn’t make the 2023 NASCAR playoffs as a driver; however, the No. 9 team was able to comfortably place itself in the fight for the Owners’ Championship. In fact, Elliott has taken the No. 9 team to the Round of 8 despite a lack of playoff points. However, the Round of 8 for the Hendrick Motorsports team has not gone according to plan.
Elliott finished in 32nd place at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and 15th place at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Between the two races, the No. 9 team has only earned 27 points and that has created a very troubling situation with the Owners’ Championship. Elliott and the No. 9 team face a must-win situation in the Round of 8 finale at Martinsville Speedway as they sit 77 points below the playoff cut-line.
CRASH: Chase Elliott.
Elliott hits the wall in practice. He's competing for the owner's championship for the No. 9 team. #NASCARPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/Y7s2vbc5Z7
— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) October 14, 2023
In the NextGen car era, the Hendrick Motorsports driver has a best finish of second place in April 2022; however, the No. 9 team has finished in 10th place in three straight races despite winning stages and leading laps. If Elliott wants to continue his march toward making the No. 9 team a champion in 2023, it will take his first victory of the season to accomplish his goal.
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