Chase Elliott had a rough start to his 2024 season at the Daytona 500 race.
Hendrick Motorsports made history last Monday at Daytona International Speedway. The team achieved their first victory at the Daytona 500 in ten years. Chase Elliott, driving the No:48 HMS car, finished the race in second place after failing to overtake his teammate before the final caution flag was waved due to a crash on the track.
The win was even more significant for HMS because it occurred on the 40th anniversary of their NASCAR Cup debut. However, not everyone at HMS was celebrating, as 2020 Cup Series champion Chase Elliott was disappointed in himself for making a mistake that cost him a better finish.
Chase Elliott, understandably upset, blamed himself for choosing the wrong lane. He stated, “I’m not sure if I would’ve made it to the front row, but it definitely would’ve been a better finish than where we ended up. So, I hate that, but aside from that, it was a good day. I’m happy for (Byron).”
Elliott, who won the first stage of the 500-mile race, finished in 14th place due to a mistake he made towards the end of the race. Another driver, RCR’s (driver’s name), forced him off the track while attempting a risky maneuver. This caused Elliott to lose momentum and fall to the back of the pack.
The 2023 NASCAR Cup season was a disaster for Elliott. He failed to qualify for the playoffs and did not win a single race, unlike his teammates Byron and (another teammate’s name) who had successful seasons.
Elliott’s season was plagued by injuries, including a tibia injury that caused him to miss six races and a suspension that caused him to miss another race. These setbacks hindered his performance and made it a challenging year for him.
Now fully recovered from his injuries, Elliott is determined to regain the skills that were impacted by his physical condition. The upcoming race at Atlanta on Sunday presents another opportunity for him to break his unlucky winless streak.