Chase Elliott fell short of the Championship 4, but his 2025 Cup Series season showed promise. He reached the Round of 8, a notable feat.
What happened?
Elliott finished third at Martinsville on Sunday, but it wasn't enough to put him in the Championship 4, staying 62 points below the cutoff line.
Why it matters for Chase Elliott
Former driver Kyle Petty believes Elliott is missing a spark that made him special when he won the championship. Petty thinks Elliott needs to find what's missing to regain his top form.
What comes next?
Petty suggests Elliott needs to adapt to his car and understand its character to improve his performances. Elliott praised his No. 9 crew for their effort and wished for one of his teammates to win the championship for Hendrick Motorsports.
Chase Elliott secured two wins in the 2025 season, marking a strong turnaround in form after two average seasons. On Sunday at Martinsville, he finished in third place, but it wasn't enough to secure a spot in the Championship 4.
Kyle Petty, the former driver, spoke about Elliott on NASCAR: Inside the Race, explaining what he's been missing lately. Petty had some suggestions for Elliott to regain his mojo, including finding the right line in the corner and letting the car roll.
Elliott's 2025 season was a big step up after struggling to find wins in the previous two seasons. He finished the season with two wins and a strong performance at Martinsville, but it wasn't enough to put him in the Championship 4.
Petty asserted that what Elliott lacked wasn't skill or talent, but rather the ability to adapt to his car and understand its character. Once he does this, Petty believes Elliott's performances will improve significantly.
Chase Elliott is still learning to adapt to his car, but with the right mindset and approach, he can regain his top form and compete for the championship. Elliott's strong 2025 season is a promising sign for his future in NASCAR.
The 2025 season may not have ended as Elliott had hoped, but it was a step in the right direction. With the guidance of experienced drivers like Kyle Petty, Elliott can work on regaining his spark and competing at the top level in NASCAR.