At Nashville, Chase Elliott speaks with Alan Gustafson, the crew chief.
On the last lap of the Chicago race on July 7, Chase Elliott’s 2024 streak of finishing in the top 20 of all NASCAR Cup Series races was broken, as he finished 21st.
The 2020 champion saw another big run come to an end during the Pocono race on July 14 when he and three other drivers—among them, Kyle Larson, his teammate at Hendrick Motorsports—were stopped by NASCAR police for speeding in a section of the track that had caused confusion when the teams conducted their pit stops prior to the race.
The No. 9 pilot received his first speeding fine in 92 races, and when discussing the situation over the team radio with his driver, crew chief Alan Gustafson expressed his opinion about the governing body’s ruling without trying to hide it.
“How much too fast were we?” Elliott asked.
“.16 mile an hour,” Gustafson responded.
“I don’t understand with the rest of the day had been okay,” the driver questioned. “I don’t feel like I was that much different.”
His crew chief informed him, “That zone was way off from the get-go.” It has been wildly inaccurate. You know, you’re just not seeing things clearly. Just ignore it; it has been incorrect. Sadly, they refused to acknowledge their own mistakes there.
Chase Elliott Didn’t Agree With NASCAR Decision Earlier in Weekend
It’s interesting to note that the No. 9 team had previously disagreed with a NASCAR decision. A reporter questioned Chase Elliott about his opinions on the Bubba Wallace penalty from Chicago and whether he believed it was justified during media availability on July 13. Elliott remarked, “I don’t really think he should have been fined.” “I mean, you’re getting a little lost in some of that things, but dude, I get it. After feeling he had hardly brushed doors with Daniel Suarez, Chase Elliott blames himself for the last lap at Chicago and explains why he didn’t think he had much to worry about in terms of a sanction. Furthermore, in his opinion, Bubba Wallace’s actions did not justify a fine.
“And nobody got wounded, and it was regrettable, I suppose, given the circumstances and Alex’s victory in the race, among other things. However, I didn’t think it was a big deal.
Elliott Best in Cup Series
While Kyle Larson and William Byron have received a bulk of the attention in 2024 for HMS drivers with their three wins each, Elliott has quietly been not only the most consistent driver in the four-car organization but in the entire Cup field with a series-best 10.5 average finishing position.
Elliott is impressively an entire spot better than Tyler Reddick in second place with his AFP of 11.7. Interestingly, the rest of the top 5 is all HMS drivers with William Byron third at 12.8, Alex Bowman at 13.3, and Kyle Larson at 13.6.
Chris Buescher is the first Ford in the group at sixth and he is tied with Martin Truex Jr. at 14. The rest of the top 10 includes: Denny Hamlin and Brad Keselowski (tied at 14.4) and Ty Gibbs at 14.7. Reigning champion Ryan Blaney, who won his second race of 2024 at Pocono, slots in 11th at 14.9.
Elliott’s average finishing place is particularly noteworthy because of this. Compared to the multi-win drivers in the series, such as his two colleagues, he has less wins, but he has avoided disastrous finishes by routinely finishing in the top 20, a feat he repeated at the Tricky Triangle.
He came in ninth. For Heavy.com, Kyle Dalton covers NASCAR. Having covered high school, collegiate, and professional sports for over 30 years, he has written for publications such as the Austin American-Statesman, San Antonio Express News, Detroit News, and Sportscasting.com.
