Win or go home. The task was as simple as this for Chase Elliott. The Hendrick Motorsports driver rolled into Martinsville with his back against the wall. A massive 62 points below the cutline and no room for error. But, as you know, in NASCAR, “simple” rarely means easy.

After a rollercoaster playoff stretch that saw the No. 9 team stumble at Vegas and run out of luck at Talladega, Martinsville became their last stand. Fans packed the paperclip short track, hoping to see the 2020 champ pull off a miracle. But as the laps wound down, Elliott’s charge came up just shy. Still, beneath the sting of elimination, there was something different in his tone.

There was a sense of calm, reflection, and maybe even quiet optimism about what’s next for Hendrick’s most consistent fighter.

Chase Elliott’s Martinsville fight ends playoff hopes

Knowing that a victory would be his last chance to advance to the Championship 4, Chase Elliott was prepared for the 2025 Martinsville cutoff event. Qualifying inside the top ten, Elliott’s pace was strong throughout. He maintained the No. 9 Chevrolet in the center of the fight by running ahead, especially during the last laps.

However, Elliott’s playoff chances ended at the checkered flag after a valiant effort resulted in a third-place finish, behind winner Byron and runner-up Blaney. “Just came up a little short. It was a good effort. Really proud of the fight throughout the week. Everybody had the shot for bringing their very best,” Elliott reflected after the race. His words perfectly captured the spirit and determination shown by Hendrick Motorsports in the season’s closing weeks.

This outcome concluded the Round of 8 in which Elliott’s crew fought valiantly, recovering from defeat at Talladega, when he lost crucial points following a DNF after being trapped in a wreck. Similarly, he finished 18th at Las Vegas, where the team had the speed but was unable to turn it into a necessary victory due to late-race chaos.

“I had some of our best races over the last month, I feel like pace-wise, which was encouraging,” Elliott shared, signaling real optimism for the upcoming season despite the disappointment. For Elliott, the pain of elimination is nothing new. He has previously experienced the highs and lows of this playoff pressure. However, looking ahead, the late-season comeback and pace offer Hendrick supporters hope for the future.

And the hope remains with the Hendrick teams as well. Chase Elliott’s teammates, William Byron and Kyle Larson, both advanced to the Championship 4. This means that Elliott could still play a critical supporting role in the title fight. “Hopefully, one of the two guys can get it done next week,” he concluded.

And then there were four

The NASCAR Cup Series Championship 4 grid is set for the race in Phoenix between two drivers from Hendrick Motorsports and two from Joe Gibbs Racing after a thrilling Martinsville cutoff. Denny Hamlin, who won in Las Vegas to earn the first spot, is making his sixth appearance in the final four. The veteran, who is looking for his elusive first championship, is a formidable opponent at Phoenix Raceway thanks to his six victories this season and playoff perseverance.

After an outstanding season filled with an impressive series-leading seven pole positions and top-10 results, Chase Briscoe, in his first season with Joe Gibbs Racing, secured his place by winning Talladega. He will be competing for his first-ever championship! Briscoe is this year’s dark horse because of his quick adjustment to the JGR stable and his prior victory in Phoenix in 2022.

Following a spectacular run at Martinsville, regular-season champion William Byron heads into his third consecutive Championship 4. Byron demonstrated his veteran poise and short-track prowess by leading 304 laps and holding off his fiercest charging competitors to secure his spot. At Phoenix, he will compete for his first championship and try to become the most recent Hendrick driver to be crowned.

Finally, Kyle Larson completes the lineup, making his third Championship 4 appearance in five years. The 2021 champion remains Hendrick’s experienced ace, out-pointing rivals in the closing races despite a winless streak that dates to early summer. With 21 top-10s, Larson’s consistent pace and title pedigree mean he could easily rise to the occasion and reclaim NASCAR’s ultimate prize.

Phoenix awaits! Whichever of these four finishes highest on Sunday earns the 2025 Cup championship after a year defined by resurgence, strategy, and heart-stopping finishes.