[autotag]Chase Elliott[/autotag] has been one of the most successful drivers in NASCAR since his first Cup Series victory at Watkins Glen International during the 2018 season. Since that point, Elliott has won 17 more races and the 2020 Cup Series championship. However, the 2023 NASCAR season has been a low point for the driver of the No. 9 car.
Elliott hasn’t won a race during the 2023 season with the season finale coming this weekend at Phoenix Raceway. It would be the first time that Elliott has had a winless season since he started winning in the Cup Series. The Hendrick Motorsports driver has won at least two races per year over the last five years.
This all started when Elliott fractured his left tibia while snowboarding in March and continued when he got suspended for intentionally wrecking Denny Hamlin during Coca-Cola 600. He has been unable to get back into the groove of winning races but did manage to bring the No. 9 team to the Round of 8 in the Owners’ Championship. However, is there hope going into the 2024 NASCAR season?
WHAT A MOVE. RETWEET TO CONGRATULATE CHASE ELLIOTT ON HIS NASCAR CUP SERIES WIN AT TALLADEGA! pic.twitter.com/UBWPljY7J2
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) October 2, 2022
Elliott has earned the seventh-most points during the 2023 playoffs despite not having a single top-5 finish. In fact, before the last three races, Elliott had seven straight top-11 finishes. He also showed winning speed at Kansas Speedway during the playoffs by leading 47 laps before a sixth-place finish. To answer the question, there is hope going into next season.
The No. 9 team will most likely end the 2023 season without a victory but Elliott should be back to form by the start of the 2024 Daytona 500. Sure, the 27-year-old driver is coming off a playoff run that did not go well in 2022 but he still made the Championship 4. Elliott is absolutely in contention to win multiple races next year.
Quite frankly, Elliott’s season was over before it ever truly began. After the second race of the season at Auto Club Speedway, it was too much to overcome. In 2024, Elliott will be back better than ever and the 2023 season will continue to give him motivation to be the best driver possible.
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