Chase Elliott doesn't want to leave playoffs hopes up to Daytona

Many are seeing this as the weekend Chase Elliott has to get himself to victory lane if he plans on making it to the NASCAR Playoffs. Given the circumstances this season, it is impressive how well Elliott has performed. But none of that matters without clinching a spot in the postseason.

Right now, Chase Elliott is in an interesting position. He needs to win to make the drivers playoffs. However, his No. 9 team, thanks to Josh Berry and Jordan Taylor’s efforts subbing in, is in the owners championship playoffs. That is what matters when it comes to payouts for teams.

Remember a year ago when Kurt Busch dropped from the driver playoffs, Bubba Wallace drove the No. 45 to try to win the owner championship for 23XI Racing. It also set up a scenario where Kyle Larson could have won Hendrick the championship at Phoenix, but Joey Logano locked up the driver and owner titles.

Watkins Glen is a place that is special to Chase Elliott. He won his first race ever in the Cup Series there and then went back-to-back the year after. This year, he’s hoping it is the place he turns things around once again.

“Certainly, don’t want to have yourself in a position to have to win at Daytona, but that’s a possibility at this point,” Elliott said via HendrickMotorsports.com “I feel way better about going to Watkins Glen than I do Daytona because there is more in my control going there verses a plate race.”

One thing working for Chase Elliott this weekend is his long-time crew chief Alan Gustafson.

Chase Elliott leaning on his crew chief for an advantage

When you look at some of the best drivers in NASCAR history, a lot of them had long-time crew chiefs at one point or another. Sometimes drivers do best by switching things up and taking a new approach. For Elliott, Gustafson is that partner he can rely on.

With all of their years together, a championship, the win, and all of the hard moments in between – it has to help to have someone you can count on at a time like this.

“Being together as long as we have is a big deal,” Elliott said. “Because of that time together, there’s been a wide range of achievements but also disappointments. I think that you grow together through both of them, maybe even more through the disappointing days than you do through the good ones. That is a huge strength in my opinion. Just having that time together, going through those ups and downs and being able to ride that wave as middle of the road as possible is setting yourself up for success.”

Let’s see if Chase Elliott and Alan Gustafson have another great performance under their firesuits. They are the favorites heading into the weekend and Watkins Glen is the best chance they have at grabbing a checkered flag.