In a stern reality check, Jeff Gordon, the vice chairman of Hendrick Motorsports, made it clear that Chase Elliott’s recent performance is not up to par with the team’s standards. This comes in the wake of a disappointing 18th place finish by Elliott at the Homestead-Miami Speedway race, in sharp contrast to the strong performances by his teammates Kyle Larson and Alex Bowman.
Gordon, a former Cup series champion himself, did not mince words in his assessment of Elliott’s struggle. He acknowledged the back-to-back penalties faced by Elliott and his No. 9 team, but underscored the fact that Elliott is being compared with some of the best in the business. His message was clear: at Hendrick Motorsports, mediocrity does not make the cut.
The comparison runs deeper than just one race. While Elliott managed to silence critics with a long-awaited win at the Texas Motor Speedway in 2024, following a winless 2023 season, he has been unable to sustain that momentum into 2025. Early struggles, costly penalties, and a lack of front-running pace have put him behind his competition.
His teammates, on the other hand, have displayed impressive performances. For instance, Byron is still riding high from his second consecutive Daytona 500 win and Larson, fresh off his victory at Homestead-Miami, has been leading laps and contending for victories nearly every weekend. Even Bowman, despite a costly late mistake at Homestead, has been a consistent contender.
It’s not just about one or two races, but the overall performance across the season. Elliott, despite a promising start with a win at the Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium, has struggled with consistency. He has only one top-five finish and two top-10s in six races, alongside two speeding penalties in the last five races, a marked departure from his previous record of just one in 109 races.
Gordon’s critique is a wake-up call for the No. 9 team. They need to regroup and fast, or risk falling further behind. Elliott is currently sixth in the standings, but he and his team are well aware that he is not measuring up to his teammates.
In addition to his own performance, Elliott also weighed in on the ongoing debate about NASCAR’s option tire. This softer “option” tire, introduced by NASCAR and Goodyear, is designed to wear out faster and create more strategy-based racing. The 2020 Cup series champion expressed support for the change, believing that it might be a step towards improving racing at short tracks.
However, not all drivers share Elliott’s optimism. While some, like Kyle Busch and Denny Hamlin deny any improvement, Elliott has chosen to stand in the opposite camp. The upcoming short-track race at Martinsville will be the real test of NASCAR’s tire plans, and also an opportunity for Elliott to regain his lost momentum.
In conclusion, while Elliott’s struggles may be a cause for concern, his ability to bounce back from a winless season in 2023 to secure a victory in 2024 proves that he is a force to be reckoned with. Gordon’s stern warning serves as a reminder that Elliott needs to step up his game to meet the high standards set by Hendrick Motorsports. Only time will tell if he can rise to the challenge.
