[autotag]Chase Elliott[/autotag] entered the Indianapolis Road Course with a slight chance to make the 2023 NASCAR playoffs on points and left with a win being his only avenue. Elliott currently sits 18th in the point standings but has an 80-point deficit to the playoff bubble with two races left in the regular season at Watkins Glen International and Daytona International Speedway.
However, the Hendrick Motorsports driver was almost out of a must-win situation at Indianapolis. Elliott finished in second place to Michael McDowell but ran him down after the final pit stop. The gap ended up being under one second and Elliott was left with another disappointing finish. The 2020 NASCAR Cup Series champion talked about what he needed to beat McDowell in the closing laps.
“Just to be a little better through the back half over there and get off of (Turn 14) a little better just to have myself in a better spot getting into (Turn 1),” Elliott said. “Just really appreciate the effort, man. Our Napa Chevy was really good, really good.”
“Just needed just a little bit more and came up a bit short. But congrats to (Michael McDowell), man. He did a good job. Ran a great race and stayed mistake-free, and that’s what you’ve got to do to win.”
Despite the second-place finish at Indianapolis, Elliott has finally found race-winning speed in the No. 9 car and it should make him the favorite to win at Watkins Glen. There is one job for Elliott moving forward and that is to win a race so he doesn’t miss the 2023 playoffs.
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