Chase Elliott Reflects on "Solid" 2025 NASCAR Season, Identifies Qualifying as Key Improvement Area

Charlotte, NC – Chase Elliott, the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series champion and a perennial contender with Hendrick Motorsports, has characterized his 2025 racing season as "good, but not great." While the driver of the No. 9 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 secured two victories and amassed 11 top-five finishes and 19 top-10 finishes, Elliott and his team are striving for higher peaks, a sentiment he shared during a recent press conference.

Despite an eighth-place finish in the final championship standings, a testament to the consistent performance his team has demonstrated over the past three seasons, Elliott acknowledged that the win total did not meet the elevated standards he and his crew have set for themselves. "I think for us, it was okay at times, and really solid at times, but it just wasn’t great," Elliott stated. "We’ve had some high spots here or there but certainly not as consistently doing that as what we would like."

This self-assessment highlights a dedication to continuous improvement that has become a hallmark of Elliott’s career. While the two wins represent significant achievements in a highly competitive series, the pursuit of more frequent visits to victory lane remains a primary objective. The statistics underscore the team’s strong baseline performance: with two wins, 11 top-five finishes, and 19 top-10 finishes, Elliott demonstrated remarkable consistency throughout the 36-race schedule. He accumulated the fourth-highest point total from the Daytona 500 in February to the season finale at Phoenix Raceway in November, showcasing his ability to perform week in and week out.

A particular area of focus for Elliott heading into the 2026 season is qualifying performance. His average starting position of 16.1 in 2025 represented a significant drop from his career average of 11.1. This diminished starting track position has had tangible consequences, not only costing the team valuable stage points on several occasions but also placing them at a disadvantage in pit stall selection, a crucial element in race strategy.

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"The qualifying thing certainly has been a huge point of emphasis, throughout the course of the season," Elliott explained. "I felt like we gained on that the last couple of months. We were way more competitive in that regard." This admission suggests a proactive approach from Elliott and his crew chief, Alan Gustafson, to dissecting performance metrics and identifying actionable areas for enhancement. The ability to qualify better can provide a more advantageous track position from the outset of races, potentially leading to fewer mid-pack battles and a cleaner path to the front.

The nature of the current NASCAR Cup Series playoff format means that drivers who qualify for the postseason are often in contention until the very end of the season. Elliott’s strong performances in the latter stages of the 2025 campaign, including the final month and a half, align with this observation. "I feel like some of our best performances all year really came in the last month and a half or so, which was nice," he commented. "It’s always fun to end the season in a good spot." This late-season surge, while positive, also implicitly points to the fact that if such performance levels had been achieved earlier in the season, the overall outcome might have been even more favorable.

The 2025 season saw Elliott return to a full-time racing schedule after recovering from injuries sustained in a snowboarding accident in early 2023, which significantly impacted his 2023 campaign. His return to form in 2024, marked by the two victories, demonstrated his resilience and enduring talent. The wins came at Texas Motor Speedway and Michigan International Speedway, two tracks that reward strong aerodynamics and mechanical grip.

Hendrick Motorsports, the storied organization for which Elliott drives, has a rich history of success, and the No. 9 team continues to be a prominent force within that legacy. The team’s consistent presence in the playoffs and their ability to contend for wins are indicative of the resources and expertise provided by the organization. However, in a sport where margins are razor-thin, even minor improvements can translate into significant gains in results.

The emphasis on qualifying is a strategic move that could pay dividends in 2026. Starting closer to the front of the field not only offers a better chance to secure stage points but also allows for more flexibility in race strategy. Pit road decisions, tire management, and fuel conservation can all be optimized when a team is not battling through traffic. For Elliott, who is known for his smooth driving style and ability to conserve tires, improved starting positions could unlock his full potential.

Looking ahead, the competition in the NASCAR Cup Series is expected to remain fierce. Teams are constantly innovating and refining their programs. Elliott’s candid assessment of his 2025 season suggests that the No. 9 team is not resting on their laurels. Their commitment to identifying and addressing weaknesses, particularly in qualifying, signals a determined effort to elevate their performance to championship-contending levels. The journey to a second Cup Series title will undoubtedly be challenging, but Elliott’s proactive approach and the continued support of Hendrick Motorsports provide a strong foundation for future success. The driver and his team are clearly aiming for that "great" season, and the work to achieve it has already begun.

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