Chase Elliott explains Crayon 301 qualifying struggles after P18 result

Despite a strong race last year at the Magic Mile, Chase Elliott was not able to practice or qualify well in New Hampshire. Ahead of the NASCAR Crayon 301, Elliott qualified P18. That might change a little bit with cars being sent to the rear for adjustments and the sort. Still, it is a far cry from his runner-up performance last season.

To make things a little more perplexing, Chase Elliott is having trouble with the new tires it appears. At least, he doesn’t seem comfortable with them, even after being part of the tire test two months ago that made this new tire possible.

It shows just how tricky New Hampshire Motor Speedway can be, even for a champion.

“Ran good up here last year and I wasn’t really sure why, to be honest,” Elliott said to media, via Bob Pockrass of Fox Sports. “We had a – actually believe it or not – we had a good test here a month and a half, a couple of months whatever it was. Unfortunately, doesn’t seem to be helping us much here today.”

When asked if the tire felt any different, Chase Elliott was honest. It absolutely feels different.

“It does, it does. But we tested, I thought, I think. I think we tested a tire that was much like what they ended up bringing back. All the drivers really liked that tire, myself included. I think it was myself, I think [Christopher] Bell and Brad [Keselowski]? My conversation with those guys up here at the test we were all like ‘Wow that was bigger than any spoiler change, underwing whatever thing we had done,’ was my take. So yeah it seems like a good direction for racing, in my opinion.”

Will we see Elliott bounce back in the race on Monday?

Can Chase Elliott have a Magic Mile Monday?

Due to the flood warnings and heavy rain in the area, NASCAR decided to just push this race to Monday. With weather being an issue for the last three weeks straight, I’m sure NASCAR is tired of making these decisions. Each one is unique and requires a certain level of nuance to a decision like this.

However, after seeing two weeks of shortened races, I’m happy to see NASCAR push the race so we can get all 301 miles. Chase Elliott might have a little more time to figure things out before he heads back onto that Magic Mile.

Elliott really needs points, but he desperately needs a win. Given how many races he missed to injury and his one-week suspension after the Coca-Cola 600, Elliott is in a tough spot. There are still opportunities to win, but his Hendrick Motorsports No. 9 doesn’t even look like it has speed the last few weeks.

In fact, last week in Atlanta, Elliott wasn’t even a factor for stage points, really. It was a tough beat for Elliott and he will have to find something extra this weekend, or at some point in the final seven races. He sits 23rd overall, 60 points out of the playoff cutline.

Chase Elliott was a shoo-in for the playoffs at the beginning of the season. Now he’s calculating in his mind how many positions he can give up to other drivers on the bubble. Are we going to see a Magic Mile Monday for Elliott and his team?