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Charlotte, NC – Chase Elliott, the highly accomplished driver of the No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, has characterized his 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season as "solid" but falling short of the "great" status the team strives for. Despite securing two victories and achieving a commendable 11 top-5 finishes and 19 top-10 results, Elliott believes his performance, while consistent, lacked the consistent dominance that has defined his career and the expectations of his championship-contending team.
The 2025 season saw Elliott finish eighth in the final championship standings. However, a deeper statistical analysis reveals a more nuanced picture of his performance. From the season opener at Daytona in February to the finale at Phoenix in November, Elliott accumulated the fourth-highest point total among all competitors. This sustained performance underscores the hallmark consistency that has become a hallmark of the No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports operation over the past three seasons. Yet, for a driver and team accustomed to hoisting trophies, the number of wins – two – was deemed insufficient.
"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, where he was also recognized for his fan-voted 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 sentiment reflects a self-imposed standard of excellence that transcends mere statistical achievement and points towards a drive for absolute supremacy.
A significant area of concern for Elliott heading into the 2026 season is qualifying performance. His average starting position of 16.1 in 2025 represents a notable decline from his career average of 11.1. This deficit at the outset of races has had tangible consequences, not only by potentially costing the team valuable stage points in the early segments of races but also by placing them at a disadvantage regarding pit stall selection. Optimal pit stall positioning can be crucial for race strategy and execution, particularly on tracks where track position is paramount.
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"The qualifying thing certainly has been a huge point of emphasis, throughout the course of the season," Elliott acknowledged. "I felt like we gained on that the last couple of months. We were way more competitive in that regard." This observation suggests a mid-season adjustment and improvement in qualifying speed, a positive trend that the team aims to build upon. Demonstrating greater consistency in starting positions would undoubtedly provide a stronger foundation for race-day success and mitigate the need for extensive on-track recovery.
Despite the perceived shortcomings in terms of outright wins and qualifying speed, Elliott’s ability to consistently contend for playoff berths is undeniable. Making the playoffs inherently means being in the hunt for the championship in the latter stages of the season, a testament to the team’s resilience and ability to perform under pressure.
"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 reflected. "It’s always fun to end the season in a good spot." This suggests that while the overall season may not have met the highest aspirations, the team demonstrated a capacity for peak performance when it mattered most, peaking during the crucial playoff run. This late-season surge, while commendable, also highlights the challenge of translating that momentum into the consistent winning required for a championship.
Hendrick Motorsports, the storied organization that fields the No. 9 Chevrolet, has a rich history of success in the NASCAR Cup Series. The team’s overall performance in 2025, while strong, is often measured against the exceptionally high bar set by its own legacy. In 2025, Hendrick Motorsports fielded four full-time entries in the Cup Series: the No. 5 driven by Kyle Larson, the No. 9 driven by Chase Elliott, the No. 24 driven by William Byron, and the No. 48 driven by Alex Bowman. The team achieved a combined total of 15 wins across these entries, with William Byron leading the charge with multiple victories. Kyle Larson, a former Cup Series champion, also secured wins, demonstrating his continued prowess. Alex Bowman, despite facing some challenges, also contributed to the team’s overall win total.
The competitive landscape of the NASCAR Cup Series in 2025 was particularly fierce. Several teams and drivers emerged as strong contenders throughout the season. Joe Gibbs Racing, with its stable of talented drivers including Denny Hamlin, Christopher Bell, and Martin Truex Jr., consistently challenged Hendrick Motorsports for wins and championship contention. Hamlin, in particular, had a strong statistical season, often finding himself in victory lane and battling for points. Bell also showcased flashes of brilliance, securing wins and demonstrating his capability to compete at the highest level. Truex Jr., a former champion, continued to be a formidable force, though his season may have been characterized by fewer wins than in some previous years, he remained a consistent front-runner.
Team Penske, another perennial powerhouse, also fielded strong entries with drivers like Joey Logano and Ryan Blaney. Logano, a two-time Cup Series champion, remained a threat in every race, while Blaney, the reigning champion from the 2024 season, continued to build on his success, aiming to defend his title. Other notable teams and drivers, including those from 23XI Racing and Trackhouse Racing, also contributed to the competitive depth of the series, with drivers like Bubba Wallace and Ross Chastain often featuring prominently in races and demonstrating their ability to contend for wins.
The introduction of the Next Gen car in recent seasons has continued to level the playing field, demanding greater emphasis on driver skill, team strategy, and aerodynamic efficiency. This has led to more unpredictable races and a wider array of potential winners, further intensifying the competition. Elliott’s comments about qualifying underscore this point; even with a strong race car and a skilled driver, starting deep in the field can present an insurmountable obstacle on certain tracks.
Looking ahead to the 2026 season, Elliott and the No. 9 team will be focused on addressing their identified areas for improvement. The emphasis on qualifying is a strategic move to gain track position early, which can then be leveraged to secure stage points and maintain a favorable track position throughout the race. This proactive approach aims to minimize the need for aggressive, high-risk maneuvers to gain positions later in the event.
The pursuit of a championship in NASCAR is a multifaceted endeavor. It requires not only raw speed and race-winning capability but also unwavering consistency, strategic acumen, and the ability to adapt to an ever-evolving competitive environment. Chase Elliott’s assessment of his 2025 season, while perhaps not reaching the loftiest peaks, demonstrates a mature understanding of the team’s performance and a clear vision for future success. The fact that he and his team are already focusing on specific areas for improvement, such as qualifying, suggests a continued commitment to pushing the boundaries of their performance and a relentless pursuit of that elusive championship title. The NASCAR community will undoubtedly be watching closely to see if the No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports team can translate their "solid" season into a "great" one in 2026.
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