Chase Elliott runs out of fuel before final green-flag pit stop at Watkins Glen

Just as drivers were making moves for the final green flag stops of the day, Chase Elliott ran out of fuel at Watkins Glen. He came to a stop as the fuel ran out and a caution came out bringing the NASCAR field to a halt. A heartbreaking development for the No. 9 team.

Chase Elliott and his crew chief went with a two-tire stop in the first set of green flag pit stops on Sunday. It was a strategy that brought Elliott in earlier than the field and gave him some much-needed track position.

With position in hand, it looked like Elliott was going to have a shot at challenging for the lead, but he needed a caution. Instead, he was the caution and he will head to Daytona in a must-win situation.

CHASE ELLIOTT RUNS OUT OF FUEL!

It's looking like he MUST WIN at Daytona to make the playoffs. #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/73VuaqK2pN

— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) August 20, 2023

Plain and simple, Watkins Glen offered Chase Elliott the best shot at winning. He has to win to make the playoffs at this point. However, it will likely not be possible now. Elliott will go down a lap and have to race for the free pass. So, realistically, he needs at least two cautions, some wild tire strategy, and a lot of luck to have any shot today.

In reality, Elliott needs to focus on preparing himself to race for a win at Daytona. That is not an easy thing to do, especially in the Next Gen era. However, that is what Elliott has been given and what he will have to do a week from now.

Chase Elliott let down by ‘bad information’

It is strange for a team like the No. 9 Hendrick group to make a mistake like this. Alan Gustafson almost NEVER makes mistakes like this. He has built a career by being one of the most consistent and confident crew chiefs in NASCAR.

In qualifying, Elliott blamed himself. This time, his crew let him down.

When Chase Elliott asked his crew chief what the heck happened with their fuel, Gustafson told him “bad information.” While we likely won’t know what that means, it likely means the team was hoping they had stolen a few laps of fuel in a desperate situation.

Unfortunately for Elliott, they did not. That bad info made their situation go from tough to catastrophic. If it had been any other car causing the caution, it would have been a gift. However, their day is effectively over at this point with the mistake made on fuel.

Having to win at Daytona is a position no one wants to be in. Chase Elliott will just have to accept it and prepare for one of the hardest races of his career next week.