Chase Elliott Grapples With Unwanted Milestone in Hendrick Motorsports Downturn

Chase Elliott’s name once echoed as a lock for Victory Lane. Now, it’s synonymous with NASCAR’s most perplexing slump. The 2020 Cup Series champion hasn’t won a points-paying race since April 2024, an unwanted milestone of a 36-race drought marking the longest of his career.

As Hendrick Motorsports’ flagship No. 9 team arrives at Talladega, Elliott faces a dual challenge: escaping the shadow of teammates and rewriting his own narrative. Once a title favorite, Elliott now trails Hendrick’s powerhouse duo of William Byron and Kyle Larson in wins, laps led, and consistency. But the Georgia native isn’t retreating.

Chase Elliott’s Frank Assessment of Hendrick’s Struggles

Elliott’s candor cuts through the noise. “We have had some good opportunities to win at different points in time, but certainly not on the consistent basis that I would like to see, or that we expect of ourselves, and I expect of myself,” he admitted.

The stats sting. His 44 laps led in 2025 rank last among Hendrick’s four drivers, a stark contrast to Byron and Larson’s dominance. Even Alex Bowman, battling inconsistency, has shown brighter flashes.

But Elliott refuses to fault his team. “I feel like we’ve done a good job,” he said, praising crew chief Alan Gustafson’s leadership. The No. 9 Chevrolet has shown speed, enough to contend at times, but closing deals has proven elusive. Since his last Cup win at Texas, Elliott’s victories have been confined to an Xfinity Series race at Charlotte and the non-points Clash at Bowman Gray.

The drought defies precedent. Before a 2023 skiing accident derailed his momentum, Elliott averaged nearly four wins annually from 2018-2022. Now, as teammates thrive, the pressure mounts. “I think there’s been a lot of lessons in there, for sure, good and bad,” he said.

“You just have to take those lessons and take the experience that comes with all that stuff and figure out how to make [yourself] better. That’s really all you can do in my view.”

How Chase Elliott Reinvented His Approach Amid Slump

Superstitions once ruled Elliott’s race days. Not anymore. “I was kind of that way early on when I started racing, and I kind of gave up on those superstitions,” he revealed to News Nation. Gone are the rituals of his early career, replaced by a meticulous focus on preparation.

Talladega offers a fresh test. Starting 30th in Sunday’s Jack Link’s 500, Elliott knows survival is key, eyeing a third win at the 2.66-mile track. But with five top-10s and two top-fives this season, optimism is cautious.

Yet his resolve hasn’t cracked. “Just being prepared… put yourself in the best position, try to make those quick decisions in the right way, you’re going to have some stuff go your way and some not,” he shrugged.

For NASCAR’s seven-time Most Popular Driver, the path forward is clear: outwork the drought, one methodical lap at a time.

As Talladega looms, Elliott’s legacy hangs in the balance. Wins defined his rise. Now, resilience defines his fight. And in Alabama’s chaos, even a 30th-place starter can script redemption.