Chase Elliott faced significant backlash for his long winless streak while racing for HMS. The 2020 NASCAR Cup Series champion finally broke his 42-race winless streak at Texas Motor Speedway last Sunday. Displaying maturity, Elliott skillfully maneuvered around the track, fending off challenges from Denny Hamlin and Ross Chastain to secure the team No.9’s sixth victory in the Next-Gen era.
This win marked Elliott’s first victory since the playoffs race in Talladega in 2022. Since then, his lack of consistency has been a prominent topic of discussion. The 2023 season ended without a win for Elliott, and he failed to secure a spot in the playoffs. A snowboarding accident before last year’s third race significantly impacted his performance, requiring extensive time for recovery and momentum regain.
Alan Gustafson, Chase Elliott’s crew chief, contested the idea that Elliott struggled with the Next-Gen car. In response to media questions, Gustafson emphasized Elliott’s achievements and engaged in a discussion. Notably, Gustafson highlighted that Elliott won five races and the regular season championship in 2022. The snowboarding accident was the only factor that interrupted his momentum in 2023. Gustafson also emphasized Elliott’s solid average position and results in 2024 so far.
Throughout this period, the HMS driver faced substantial criticism, especially from the media, regarding his performance and ability to handle Next-Gen cars. However, after his win in Texas, the crew chief stepped forward to address and challenge these criticisms.
With his recent victory, Chase Elliott has entered the championship conversation alongside his teammates Kyle Larson and William Byron. Moving forward, he intends to compete for more wins in the upcoming races, positioning himself favorably for a possible championship triumph.
