Chase Elliott Under Scrutiny as NASCAR Insider Launches Critical Assessment
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
Hendrick Motorsports driver Chase Elliott's recent performance has come under the scrutiny of NASCAR insider Jordan Bianchi of The Athletic.
Elliott made history by winning the 2014 NASCAR Nationwide Series championship as the first rookie and the youngest driver to clinch the title. After moving to the Cup Series with a full-time seat in 2016, Elliott continued to impress and secured his first Cup Series championship at 24 years old in 2020.
In his Cup Series career so far, Elliott has won 19 races in 322 starts. However, some argue that his recent performances, although consistent, are not showing the dominance he previously enjoyed in his championship-winning season.
During the latest episode of The Teardown podcast (below), Bianchi stated:
Chase Elliott, driver of the #9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet, waits on the grid during practice for the NASCAR Cup Series Würth 400 at Texas Motor Speedway on May 03, 2025 in Fort Worth, Texas.
Chase Elliott, driver of the #9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet, waits on the grid during practice for the NASCAR Cup Series Würth 400 at Texas Motor Speedway on May 03, 2025 in Fort Worth, Texas."We need to have a Chase Elliott conversation.
"Since the start of the 2023 season, the Wood Brothers have more wins than Chase Elliott does. That's crazy to think about. That's no disrespect to the Wood Brothers, that's just the reality of the situation.
"They have two wins. Chase Elliott has one points win since the start of the 2023 season. That's crazy to think about. This is again becoming a typical, what I would associate with a typical Chase Elliott year. They run just well enough.
"You look at their average finish, you know, that kind of thing, and they grind out these finishes, and that's good, and it keeps them up in the point standings. He's fourth in points.
"Okay, that's good, but that's not good enough for this team. You look at laps-led this year, Kyle Larson and William Byron are first and second. Alex Bowman is ninth. Chase Elliott, 15th. 45 laps-led this year. This team should be better. It needs to be better."
Commenting on the race at Texas Motor Speedway, in which Elliott finished in 16th, Bianchi continued:
"On a race track where this is tailor-made for Hendrick Motorsports. We saw that today with the No. 5. Obviously, the No. 24 was up there too, until they had pit road damage. Bowman was in the mix. Elliot, they needed a tire gamble to get that track position. It wasn't like they had sheer speed. There's just, fundamentally, something is missing with this team. It's been missing for a while. Kudos to them for grinding it out and finding a way week after week to get top 10s, and that kind of thing.
"Led the series in average finish last year, and that's great, but they are not winning enough. They're not leading enough laps. They're not getting stage wins enough. This team is falling short of the expectations. Now, that's a real high bar, but they're not even close to meeting that."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
12 hours ago
- USA Today
Samantha Busch, wife of NASCAR champion driver Kyle Busch, in images
Samantha Busch, wife of NASCAR champion driver Kyle Busch, in images Kyle Busch is on his way to a Hall of Fame career in NASCAR. He has won numerous races at every level, Craftsman Truck, Xfinity and, of course, Cup Series. Wherever Kyle Busch goes his wife Samantha has been seen for years. She is a familiar presence cheering on her husband as he looks to notch victories. Television cameras gravitate to Samantha Busch as she sits atop the box hoping her husband captures checkered flags. Samantha Busch Samantha Busch Samantha Busch Samantha Busch Samantha Busch Samantha Busch Samantha Busch Samantha Busch Samantha Busch Samantha Busch Samantha Busch Samantha Busch Samantha Busch Samantha Busch Samantha Busch Samantha Busch Samantha Busch Samantha Busch Samantha Busch Samantha Busch Samantha Busch Samantha Busch Samantha Busch Samantha Busch
Yahoo
16 hours ago
- Yahoo
Report: Bayer Leverkusen Eye Liverpool Player While £126.5m Deal Looms
Liverpool and Leverkusen Summer Transfer Talks Heat Up Liverpool and Bayer Leverkusen are poised for a busy summer window, with transfer talks intensifying around several high-profile players. As Jeremie Frimpong finalises his move to Anfield, focus now shifts to Florian Wirtz and Liverpool's Harvey Elliott, who could be heading in the opposite direction. Frimpong Arrival and Wirtz Pursuit Jeremie Frimpong has already completed his medical with Liverpool and will soon officially join the Reds. His arrival strengthens a position that required immediate attention, but Liverpool's ambition doesn't end there. According to Fussball Transfers, Liverpool remain locked in a fierce battle with Bayern Munich for Bayer Leverkusen's star midfielder Florian Wirtz. Photo: IMAGO Wirtz, expected to announce his future within ten days, recently visited Liverpool alongside his family. The Reds have reportedly prepared a staggering £126.5 million offer, a clear indication of their determination to secure one of Europe's most exciting talents. Manchester City's withdrawal simplifies the scenario, turning it essentially into a straight duel between Liverpool and Bayern. Leverkusen Eye Elliott While Liverpool's focus might be firmly on Wirtz, Leverkusen are keen on conducting business in the opposite direction. Harvey Elliott is prominently featured on their transfer wishlist, alongside Manchester City's James McAtee. Elliott, who has endured limited opportunities at Anfield this season, accumulating just 821 minutes across all competitions, expressed emotional uncertainty after Liverpool's recent defeat against Brighton: 'I think I've done it this season. It's been hard with how much I've played. I've tried as hard as I could, and whatever happens, happens. It's about what's best for my career.' Advertisement At 22, Elliott is at a crossroads. Despite his evident talent, a more prominent role elsewhere could serve his development better. Bayer Leverkusen, armed with a €200 million budget, appear poised to offer him exactly that. Mutual Benefit for Clubs and Players This scenario could be mutually beneficial. Elliott would gain invaluable experience and regular football in one of Europe's most dynamic leagues, while Leverkusen could capitalise on his creativity and versatility. For Liverpool, leveraging Elliott's potential departure might help smooth negotiations for Wirtz, paving the way for one of their biggest-ever transfers. In football, nothing is certain, but this summer promises significant activity between Anfield and Leverkusen, setting the stage for compelling narratives heading into next season. Our View – Anfield Index Analysis As a Liverpool supporter, the possibility of losing Harvey Elliott feels bittersweet. Elliott's potential has never been questioned; his creativity and youthful energy have frequently brightened matches during his limited appearances. However, it is evident he's struggled to fully convince the coaching staff he deserves regular starts. The emotional post-match comments after Brighton underscore a player contemplating his future and perhaps accepting the need for a fresh start. Advertisement If Leverkusen were to secure Elliott, it could genuinely be a positive move for his career, offering him regular first-team football and a platform to mature into a more consistent performer. Simultaneously, Florian Wirtz's potential arrival would be a statement of Liverpool's ambition, an upgrade that might justify sacrificing a talented but currently underused player like Elliott. Ultimately, this transfer saga represents Liverpool's relentless pursuit of excellence. While Elliott's departure would be disappointing emotionally, strategically, it aligns with Liverpool's broader ambitions of consistently challenging at the top.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Springfield readies for busy weekend with triathlon, Pride parade, convention, graduations
SPRINGFIELD — Visitors should buckle up for a busy weekend downtown with tens of thousands of people expected to converge for multiple major events. The Pride parade, block party and You Ball is expected to attract some 10,000 people on Saturday, and the Ironman competition will bring in more than 1,300 competitors, plus family and friends who will watch on Sunday. And that's just a start. The Massachusetts Veterans of Foreign Wars is holding its 105th convention, restaurant week is kicking off, MGM is offering a free concert, the Springfield school district is hosting its third Family Expo for its 23,700 students and their families, and there are multiple graduations and one prom scheduled, said Springfield Police Lt. Brian Elliott, who is part of a team of police who have been preparing for months for one of the city's busiest weekends of the year. Elliott said, yes, there will be traffic, especially with the road closures from the Pride events and Ironman, but the city is prepared, and there will be police in cruisers and on bikes at the ready, and others stationed in key areas to keep vehicles moving. 'It's a good problem to have. Things are beginning to jell in Springfield,' he said. When asked if so many events benefit the city or just cause chaos and turn people off, most agree with Elliott. 'I say, 'Bring it on,'' Mayor Domenic J. Sarno said. 'As long as we can cover it logistically, the more the merrier.' Mary Kay Wydra, president of the Greater Springfield Convention and Visitors Bureau, said she only sees good things coming out of the combination of events. With many athletes coming a day or more early, for example, she said they can take advantage of the city's restaurant week. Neither she nor Sarno said they are worried about parking, especially with the recent opening of the new 817-space parking garage across from the MassMutual Center. There are also multiple other garages and on-street parking spots scattered across the city. 'A lot of activity shows the city is vibrant, which is good,' Wydra said. 'People will say, 'Wow, I want to come back here.'' Sarno urged people to be patient with the traffic, but added police, fire, Public Works and parks employees all have been working together for weeks and even months to develop a logistical plan to ensure everything goes smoothly, so people have fun first. On Thursday, about 75 people from area police and fire departments, state police, the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency, emergency medical personnel and others gathered in West Springfield to go over the final details of the Ironman competition on Sunday. Some of the biggest road closures on Sunday will be the Memorial Bridge from 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Hall of Fame Avenue between the bridge and State Street from 4 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Main Street between Hall of Fame Avenue and Longhill Street between 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Court Street will be closed on Saturday and Sunday, but there will be one travel lane left open to give people attending graduations easy access to Symphony Hall, Elliott said. The race will go through seven communities, including Agawam, Southwick and Suffield, Connecticut. Public safety officials said they already have posted no parking signs along the route, and letters have been mailed to residents who live on the streets where cyclists will ride. There were some concerns about cyclists' safety in the past, so race officials rode with police to review the route. They identified potential trouble spots, and those will have extra personnel to ensure everyone is safe. There will be additional road closings in Springfield on Saturday because of the Pride parade and block party. State and Main streets will be closed a little before noon for the parade, which will begin at Springfield Technical Community College, travel down State, turn onto Main Street and end on Worthington. The block party will follow at Stearns Square with a short section of Worthington and Bridge — between the park and Main Street — to be closed for the free event, said Taurean Bethea, president and founder of the Springfield Pride Parade. Pride also has spent countless hours with city officials to develop a plan to ensure people can get in and out without problems. 'We have a great partnership with the Springfield Police Department, and we bring in our own security team,' he said. 'We are in trying times, and we want to make sure everyone is safe and protected.' Like many, Bethea said he sees the busy weekend as more of a plus than a minus and said Pride is welcoming to everyone, so he hopes people who come to Springfield for the Ironman or the other events also will check out the wealth of entertainment at the block party. He said he thinks there is plenty of places to park for all the events, especially with the new parking garage. He also hopes those coming to the city to attend Pride will consider stay an extra day to watch the triathlon. 'I think it will be amazing,' he said. 'People get to see a weekend full of events from Pride (to) Ironman, and they get to see how great this city is.' Ironman is owned by Advance, which also owns The Republican, and Reminder Publishing. Read the original article on MassLive.
