[autotag]Chase Elliott[/autotag] has not shown race-winning speed since returning from his six-week absence due to a fractured left tibia in a snowboarding accident. That was until Sunday’s race at the Indianapolis Road Course. Elliott had a top-3 car and came very close to reaching Michael McDowell at the end of the event. It wasn’t enough and the No. 9 car finished in second place.
Still, Elliott’s latest performance has created significant optimism for next weekend’s race at Watkins Glen International. The Hendrick Motorsports driver has struggled in the speed department since his return but those concerns are now gone. It has come back at the perfect time with Elliott’s best track up next while facing a must-win scenario following McDowell’s victory.
Elliott sits 18th in the point standings but has an 80-point deficit to Bubba Wallace for the final playoff spot. It is very, very unlikely that he will be able to make up that ground so his avenue for a playoff berth is a win at either Watkins Glen or Daytona International Speedway. Sure, Daytona can still represent an opportunity but it is clear what needs to happen. Elliott needs to win at Watkins Glen.
Daniel Suarez SHUNTS Chase Elliott out of the way!
Watch #NASCAR on @NBC. pic.twitter.com/d8SmJR81o5
— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) August 13, 2023
There are no reasons to doubt the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series champion too. Elliott has four straight top-4 finishes at the venue and could have easily won last season. If that took place, Elliott would have won three out of the last four races at Watkins Glen. In fact, his first Cup Series victory came at the race track during the 2018 season, which started this run.
Elliott is NASCAR’s most successful road course driver in the current era but only McDowell has proven to be better with the NextGen car. Unfortunately for the rest of the competition, Elliott has found the speed the No. 9 car was lacking while he and Watkins Glen are on a collision course.
[lawrence-related id=443]