Chase Elliott Reflects on a Solid, Yet Unfulfilled 2025 NASCAR Season, Targeting Qualifying Improvements for 2026

Charlotte, NC – Chase Elliott, the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series champion and perennial fan favorite, has characterized his 2025 racing season as "good but not great," a sentiment stemming from a desire for more victories despite achieving consistent performance throughout the year. Driving the No. 9 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 for Hendrick Motorsports, Elliott secured two wins, 11 top-five finishes, and 19 top-10 finishes. While these statistics paint a picture of a competitive season, Elliott believes his team has established higher personal benchmarks.

"I think for us, it was okay at times, and really solid at times, but it just wasn’t great," Elliott stated during a recent press conference acknowledging his record-extending eighth Most Popular Driver award. "We’ve had some high spots here or there but certainly not as consistently doing that as what we would like."

This self-assessment is underpinned by a nuanced understanding of the NASCAR Cup Series championship format. Although Elliott ultimately finished eighth in the final standings, his season-long point accumulation placed him fourth overall from the Daytona 500 in February to the championship race at Phoenix Raceway in November. This consistent scoring is a hallmark of Elliott and the No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports team, who have demonstrated remarkable steadiness over the past three seasons. However, the ultimate measure of success in NASCAR often hinges on the number of trips to Victory Lane.

One specific area Elliott identified for improvement heading into the 2026 season is qualifying. His average starting position for the 2025 season stood at 16.1, a notable decrease from his career average of 11.1. This diminished starting track position has had tangible consequences, not only potentially impacting the ability to gain crucial stage points in the early portions of races but also placing the team at a disadvantage when selecting their pit stall for the duration of the event.

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"The qualifying thing certainly has been a huge point of emphasis, throughout the course of the season," Elliott elaborated. "I felt like we gained on that the last couple of months. We were way more competitive in that regard." This observation suggests a tactical shift or renewed focus within the team to improve their speed in time trials. A stronger qualifying effort could translate to better track position throughout the race, potentially leading to more opportunities to contend for wins and stage points, thereby enhancing their overall performance and championship aspirations.

The structure of the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs inherently means that drivers who qualify for the postseason are actively competing in the final weeks of the season. Elliott’s team has consistently been a playoff contender, a testament to their ability to perform at a high level throughout the regular season and secure their spot among the championship contenders.

"I feel like some of our best performances all year really came in the last month and a half or so, which was nice," Elliott commented, referencing the latter stages of the 2025 season. "It’s always fun to end the season in a good spot." This late-season surge indicates the team’s resilience and their capacity to elevate their performance under pressure, a critical attribute for any championship-contending organization. However, the goal remains to carry that momentum and consistency from the outset of the season, rather than needing a late charge to solidify their position.

Hendrick Motorsports, one of NASCAR’s most storied and successful organizations, has a rich history of success with Elliott at the helm of the No. 9 car. In 2024, the team achieved a total of 15 wins across its four entries, with William Byron leading the charge with eight victories. Kyle Larson contributed four wins, Alex Bowman added two, and Elliott’s two wins rounded out the team’s impressive victory tally. This collective success underscores the high standards and competitive environment within Hendrick Motorsports, a standard that Elliott is clearly striving to meet and exceed.

The 2025 season saw Elliott’s campaign marked by a significant statistical output, even without a championship title. His 2,465 laps led demonstrate his ability to run at the front of the field, and his 19 top-10 finishes highlight his consistent presence in the upper echelon of competitors. However, the championship battle, which culminated with Ryan Blaney securing his first Cup Series title, serves as a benchmark for what Elliott and his team are aiming to achieve. The competitive landscape of the Cup Series is intense, with multiple teams and drivers capable of winning on any given weekend.

Looking ahead to 2026, the focus on qualifying is a strategic move. Improved starting positions can reduce the amount of time spent navigating through traffic, minimize tire wear, and allow for cleaner pit stop execution. In a sport where margins of victory can be fractions of a second and track position is paramount, a strong qualifying performance can provide a significant advantage. Elliott’s acknowledgement of progress in this area in the latter part of 2025 suggests that the team is actively addressing this weakness and working towards a more potent qualifying package.

The pursuit of a second Cup Series championship remains the ultimate objective for Chase Elliott and Hendrick Motorsports. While the 2025 season provided valuable experience and a solid foundation, the drive for greater success is evident. The team’s consistent ability to reach the playoffs and contend throughout the season, coupled with Elliott’s personal ambition and identified areas for growth, points towards a determined effort to elevate their performance in the upcoming 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season. The emphasis on qualifying, alongside the ongoing pursuit of race wins and championship contention, sets the stage for what promises to be another closely watched season for the popular driver and his dedicated team.