Chase Elliott described the 2025 season as decent but not outstanding. He secured two wins and had 11 top-5 finishes, with 19 top-10 finishes overall. Although Elliott ended up eighth in the championship standings under the current format, he actually earned the fourth-highest number of points from the season opener in Daytona to the finale in Phoenix. This reflects the dependable performance of the No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports team, known for their consistent showings over the past three years. However, their number of wins fell short of their own high expectations.
“For us, there were some good moments and some solid ones, but nothing truly great,” Elliott shared during the Most Popular Driver award press event. “We performed well at times but didn’t maintain the level of consistency we aimed for.”
Elliott’s primary issue going into the 2026 season is qualifying, as his average starting position this year was 16.1—worse than his career average of 11.1. This likely impacted his stage points and sometimes put the team at a disadvantage during pit stops. “Qualifying was a key focus throughout the year,” he noted. “In the past few months, we’ve improved and become more competitive in that area.”
Making the playoffs means Elliott will often be racing near the back each week, but he feels positive about his recent performance. “My best racing this year came in the last month and a half, which felt good. It’s always rewarding to end the season strong,” he said.
Fan Take: Chase Elliott’s honest reflection on the 2025 season highlights the challenge of maintaining top-tier performance in NASCAR. Fans should watch closely as improvements in qualifying and consistency could make next season a breakout year, raising the competitive stakes within the sport.
