Chase Elliott still focused on winning his way into the NASCAR Playoffs

Once again, Chase Elliott is faced with a chance to contend for a win. He has top-10 speed at Michigan, and his focus has remained the same. Points is one thing, but getting a win makes you a contender. No one wins the NASCAR championship without winning races.

40 points below the cutline and four races to go in the regular season, Chase Elliott has to have some big performances. Elliott has not been able to really contend for a win since he returned from his injury. Things have seemed to have gotten worse in the last four to six weeks.

As far as Elliott and his team are concerned, a win is a must. That is the goal. Nothing has changed and this is another chance to turn this season around.

“My stance has been the same since I got back and I think we need to win,” Elliott lamented. “And like I’ve said a thousand times since I’ve been back, I think gaining a lot of points and contending for wins is very much one in the same. It’s not a coincidence that the guys that are high up in points have race wins but they’re also leading the regular season thing or whatever it’s called, too. Like those two things go hand in hand. So, if you’re gaining a lot of points, you’re probably going to have a shot to win and if you’re not, you’re probably not going to have a shot to win. I think those are one in the same.”

Chase Elliott hasn’t changed his thought process — he still says he needs to win to make the playoffs rather than think about trying to make it on points: pic.twitter.com/U2cHHt6YLR

— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) August 6, 2023

Chase Elliott made the final round of qualifying again this week. However, he was the worst of the bunch, starting off P10 in the FireKeepers Casino 400.

Chase Elliott will try to make the playoffs at Michigan

Winning solves everything. It is the one thing in NASCAR that wipes away woes, questions about your talent and determination, and every other ill in the sport. Checkered flags are all that matters at the end of the day. So, how will Elliott get his No. 9 NAPA Chevy back to victory lane?

Last season, Elliott was P11 in this race. Michigan is a track he has performed well at, especially early in his career, but lately, he has faltered. It isn’t that he’s bad at Michigan, he just isn’t great.

Chase Elliott knows what he has to do to get to the playoffs. But does his car have the speed and does his pit crew have it in them to keep him mistake free? There are a group of about five other drivers competing for the same playoff spots, but only two are up for grabs.

With two road courses coming up after this weekend, Elliott has more chances. But they continue to get fewer and fewer between.