Chase Elliott Reflects on a Solid, Yet Undeniably "Not Great" 2025 NASCAR Season

Charlotte, NC – Chase Elliott, the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series champion and perennial fan favorite, has characterized his 2025 racing campaign as a season that was "okay at times, and really solid at times, but it just wasn’t great." The assessment, delivered during a press conference for his record-extending Most Popular Driver award, highlights a recurring theme for the No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports team: a consistent presence at the sharp end of the field, but a perceived deficit in achieving the victory lane success that defines elite status in NASCAR.

Despite not reaching the pinnacle of race wins, Elliott’s 2025 season showcased a remarkable level of consistency, a hallmark of his tenure with Hendrick Motorsports. The driver of the No. 9 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 secured two victories over the course of the 36-race season. This win total, while respectable, falls short of the championship aspirations that Elliott and his team hold themselves to. Beyond the checkered flags, Elliott’s performance was underscored by 11 top-five finishes and 19 top-10 finishes.

In the current championship format, Elliott concluded the season ranked eighth. However, a deeper dive into the season-long statistics reveals a more compelling picture of his performance. From the season-opening Daytona 500 in February to the championship finale at Phoenix Raceway in November, Elliott accumulated the fourth-most points of any driver. This metric speaks volumes about his team’s ability to consistently deliver strong performances week in and week out, a trait that has defined Hendrick Motorsports’ success in recent years.

"We’ve had some high spots here or there but certainly not as consistently doing that as what we would like," Elliott elaborated on his "good, not great" evaluation. This sentiment suggests an internal drive for more frequent trips to victory lane, a standard that Elliott and his crew chief, Alan Gustafson, have clearly set for themselves. The team’s consistent ability to contend for wins, yet sometimes fall just short, has become a narrative in itself.

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A significant point of emphasis for Elliott heading into the 2026 season is the area of qualifying. His average starting position of 16.1 in 2025 represented a notable decline from his career average of 11.1. This strategic disadvantage has had tangible consequences, not only affecting his ability to accrue valuable stage points early in races but also potentially impacting his team’s pit stall selection, a crucial factor in race strategy.

"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 statement indicates a proactive approach by the team to address this weakness, with signs of improvement in the latter stages of the 2025 season offering a glimmer of optimism for the future. A stronger qualifying effort could translate into better track position, fewer traffic battles, and ultimately, more opportunities to fight for wins.

The nature of the NASCAR playoff system, which rewards consistent performance with a chance at the championship, means that drivers like Elliott, who qualify for the postseason, are often involved in the final races of the season. This extended playoff run allows for a strong finish, even if the championship trophy eludes them.

"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, reflecting on the closing weeks of the 2025 season. "It’s always fun to end the season in a good spot." This positive momentum is a valuable asset as the team transitions its focus to the upcoming year. Ending the season on a high note, with strong performances in the playoff rounds, can build confidence and carry over into the subsequent season’s preparations.

Hendrick Motorsports, one of NASCAR’s most storied and successful organizations, has a storied history of championships and driver development. Elliott, a prominent figure within the team, has been a key component of their continued success. His two Cup Series championships (2020) and his remarkable streak of seven consecutive Most Popular Driver awards (dating back to 2018) solidify his status as a marquee driver in the sport. The team’s overall performance in 2025, while not reaching the championship round with any of its drivers, saw them consistently fielding competitive cars across all four entries.

The 2025 season for Chase Elliott and the No. 9 team can be viewed as a testament to their enduring competitiveness within the highly challenging NASCAR Cup Series. While the ultimate prize of a championship may have remained out of reach, the consistent delivery of strong performances, coupled with a focused effort to address identified weaknesses like qualifying, sets the stage for continued contention in the seasons to come. The team’s commitment to self-evaluation and improvement, as evidenced by Elliott’s candid reflections, suggests that the pursuit of "greatness" remains very much alive at Hendrick Motorsports. As the sport looks ahead to 2026, the No. 9 team’s blend of experience, talent, and a desire to elevate their performance will undoubtedly make them a formidable force on the track.