Chase Elliott weighed in on the “compromising” nature of the brand new NASCAR championship format, which was introduced on Monday on the NASCAR Productions Facility. This will probably be in impact for all three nationwide collection in 2026 and past.
For Elliott, the half the place 16 drivers might want to qualify for the playoffs based mostly on regular-season factors appeared particularly difficult because the outdated “win-and-you’re-in” type postseason is not any extra. On that notice, the Hendrick Motorsports ace mentioned (1:20, through Bob Pockrass on X),
Thanks for the submission!
“I feel it’s a nice compromise if I had one grievance of it…I feel 16 is simply too many. I believed that the 10-driver piece was actually onerous to get into. I nonetheless suppose 16 will probably be a problem, however to me, I feel, it is an ideal compromise. You are by no means gonna get all the pieces you need.”
The Chase will span throughout 10 races for the Cup Sequence, 9 races for the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Components Sequence (beforehand Xfinity), and 7 races for the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Sequence. The motive force who will finish the season with essentially the most factors will probably be topped the collection champion.
In a latest interview with NASCAR.com, NASCAR President Steve O’Donnell defined how going again to a modified model of the beforehand used Chase format (2004-2013) was distinctive to the game.
“It’s one thing we consider the followers will embrace,” mentioned O’Donnell. “It’s 10 races, with each race mattering and nonetheless being quite simple to elucidate to the followers. One set of factors, straightforward to elucidate, and the perfect driver on the finish of 36 races is in the end going to win the championship if they will carry out for these closing 10 races.”
All eyes at the moment are on the season-opening Daytona 500, scheduled for February 15. For Chase Elliott, it’s going to mark his eleventh Daytona 500 try.
Final yr, he completed fifteenth within the crown jewel occasion, whereas his teammate William Byron took the win. In truth, Byron is the one lively Hendrick Motorsports driver who has gained the enduring 500-mile characteristic, and that too, twice.
Chase Elliott pinpoints “one mistake” that NASCAR has made as an trade
Amid all of the modifications introduced by NASCAR on Monday, December 12, Chase Elliott spoke with reporters on the NASCAR Productions Facility in Harmony, North Carolina. He weighed in on a mistake that NASCAR has made as an trade. Explaining his stance, the Dawsonville native mentioned,
“One mistake that we’ve made as an trade, and never simply on this regard, and in different areas too, is attempting to be like each different sport, you already know, mainstream sports activities it is on the market. I feel it is tremendous necessary to do not forget that we aren’t.”
“We’re not, and that is okay as a result of what we’ve may be actually entertaining and actually enjoyable to observe,” Chase Elliott continued. “I nonetheless am an enormous fan of motorsports, like, no matter what I do for a dwelling, I nonetheless find it irresistible.”
Chase Elliott is the defending winner of NMPA’s Most Standard Driver Award, an honor his father, the legendary Invoice Elliott, obtained 16 instances throughout his profession. He’s additionally a former NASCAR Cup Sequence champion, successful his solely profession title again in 2020.
Edited by Tushhita Barua
