As the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series season heads toward its climax, former champion Kevin Harvick has cast doubt on Chase Elliott’s chances of securing a must-win victory at the upcoming Homestead-Miami race, the Straight Talk Wireless 400. While many see this race as Elliott’s best shot to secure a spot in the Championship 4, Harvick believes the competition is too fierce for the No. 9 driver to dominate.
After a lackluster 2023 season, Elliott has bounced back in 2024 but now faces a do-or-die situation in the Round of 8, needing a win to make it into the final round. Despite his consistency, Harvick remains skeptical that Elliott can rise above the competition this weekend.
“I don’t think so,” Harvick said, pushing back against the notion that Homestead is Elliott’s golden opportunity. Instead, Harvick believes other drivers, particularly Martin Truex Jr., might be better positioned to win. “For me, the guy that I would — that is not in the playoffs, I think that this could be a place that Truex could possibly put it all together,” he added.
While acknowledging that Elliott’s team has shown consistency, Harvick pointed out that the No. 9 hasn’t displayed the dominating speed necessary to lead races convincingly. “They’ve been very consistent, they’ve just been a little short on the speed that they need to go out and dominate a race,” Harvick explained. “I’m not saying it can’t happen… I just don’t think the No. 9 is going to go out there and dominate.”
Harvick also identified Elliott’s top challengers for the Homestead race: Kyle Larson (No. 5), Tyler Reddick (No. 45), and Christopher Bell (No. 20). Each of these drivers is in peak form, making them the main contenders to watch, according to Harvick.
“You’re going to have to go through the No. 5, the No. 45, and the No. 20, because those guys are — the No. 20 is on kill,” Harvick said. “The No. 5 is so good at Homestead, and the No. 45, he knows — he’s got to know that this is his weekend.”
With Elliott facing stiff competition and needing a win to secure his place in the Championship 4, the stakes couldn’t be higher. Harvick’s assessment highlights the challenges Elliott faces, and while the No. 9 team may be consistent, they’ll need more than that to beat the top contenders. Fans will be watching closely to see if Elliott can defy the odds and prove his doubters wrong as he battles for a spot in the finale.
