Why Chase Elliott's Martinsville challenge could be his biggest test yet


Chase Elliott will start eighth for the Round of 16 at Martinsville Speedway, a must-run race for the 29-year-old if he intends to reach the championship quarterfinals in Phoenix. With a sword hanging around his neck on the sub-mile track, it looms as his biggest test yet.

Elliott is one of the few drivers to win a race in the NASCAR postseason. He won the Hollywood Casino 400 and showed that he still has the strength to make it to Phoenix as a championship contender.

But since his round of 16 start, his luck seems to have taken a step back as he finished 18th at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and completed just 51 laps at Talladega before being ruled out of the race. That leaves him 62 points below the cut line.

With the gap insurmountable, even if his rivals have the worst race of his career, Chase Elliott has only one way to get out of this maze, and that is with a victory at Martinsville. While the HM rider has won at Martinsville in similar do-or-die circumstances in 2020 that set his path to victory in Phoenix, the challenge is a little different this time around.

Coming into Martinsville, he is on one of the worst hitting streaks of his career. His HM colleagues are also in the mix, such as William Byron and Kyle Larson they are looking to consolidate their place in the championship four.

This complicates the task of reaching the cut-off line, and with no other option but to win, Elliott faces a tough challenge to beat all the odds and make his bid for a place in the final four.

Chase Elliott is ready to face the do-or-die race at Martinsville Speedway

Hendrick Motorsports' Chase Elliott prior to practice for the NASCAR Cup Series Xfinity 500 at Martinsville Speedway - Source: ImagnHendrick Motorsports' Chase Elliott prior to practice for the NASCAR Cup Series Xfinity 500 at Martinsville Speedway - Source: Imagn
Hendrick Motorsports' Chase Elliott prior to practice for the NASCAR Cup Series Xfinity 500 at Martinsville Speedway – Source: Imagn

Winning a must-win race isn't for everyone, and Chase Elliott has experience doing it. Many might think the pressure could get to the 2020 Cup Series champion, but the Dawsonville-born driver thinks otherwise.

The 29-year-old was bursting with excitement and said ahead of the race weekend (via NBC Sports):

“I'm really excited about it. This weekend is a lot of fun, really, from my point of view, whether we're up 10 points, 30 points, 150 points. I don't care. I'm looking forward to it. … I think this is a good opportunity to keep things really simple for us. Go out there and perform at the highest level possible.

Aside from regular season champion Elliott William Byronreigning Cup Series champion Joey Logano and Ryan Blaney are also below the cut line heading into the Xfinity 500.