The 2024 NASCAR Cup Series season has been a rollercoaster for Chase Elliott, the 2020 Cup champion and fan-favorite. While the Hendrick Motorsports driver has managed to secure a race win and clinch a spot in the playoffs, doubts are surfacing about whether he has what it takes to go all the way in his current form. Once considered one of the sport’s most dominant drivers, Elliott has struggled to consistently rise above the competition this season, leaving insiders questioning his championship potential.
On the latest episode of the Teardown Podcast, veteran NASCAR journalists Jeff Gluck and Jordan Bianchi discussed Elliott’s playoff run, with Gluck voicing his skepticism. He pointed out that although Elliott has been consistent enough to stay in the mix, his performance has lacked the breakthrough moments that would make him a true championship contender.
“You look at the points, and you’re like, ‘Well, you know, I guess they’re alright, but he’s only plus four,'” Gluck said. “That’s another mysterious one to me, where you keep sort of thinking they’re gonna be okay, and they’re gonna hit on something, and he’s gonna have this breakout race and win his way in.”
Gluck further emphasized that while Elliott remains a threat in the playoffs, drivers like Denny Hamlin and William Byron are in better form and have demonstrated a higher level of consistency and success throughout the season.
“He’s certainly a threat, but am I going to be like, ‘Oh yeah, he’s going to the final four? Chase Elliott?’ There’s very few people I can say that about at this point.”
Statistically, Elliott’s average finish of 11.3 puts him among the best in the field, but that hasn’t translated into dominant performances or playoff security. The Georgian driver is currently only four points above the Round of 12 cutline, a slim margin that leaves little room for error. NASCAR legend Kyle Petty weighed in on this with a sarcastic dig on social media, downplaying the significance of Elliott’s average finish.
“That and $5.89 will get you a cup of coffee and +4 in the Playoffs… but not much more,” Petty quipped in response to a fan touting Elliott’s statistics.
Petty’s comment reflects a growing sentiment that while Elliott has been steady, he hasn’t shown the spark needed to be a serious title threat. As the season winds down with just six races left, all eyes will be on Elliott to see if he can step up when it matters most or if his consistency will fall short of delivering the championship his fans crave.
Photo from Chase Elliott Instagram
