The Craftsman Truck Series has its 2023 champion. The Xfinity Series has its 2023 champion. And in just a few hours, the Cup Series will have a fresh name on its championship mantle too. Mere moments away from the season finale at Phoenix, the Championship 4 boys will be kissing their cars praying for their best runs. The crews of Joe Gibbs, Rick Hendrick, and Roger Penske will be polishing their tools ready for what is to come.

On the same track, another crew will be prepping too, but not for nearly enough. As the #9 team of Chase Elliott stutters to Phoenix hoping that the season is already over, the one question that pondered in the minds of a lot has now been answered by the driver himself.

Chase Elliott gives his humble take on an alternate reality scenario after a disappointing season

Chase Elliott will have spent many nights during this season wishing that 2023 was nothing but a dream. Missing out on initial races owing to a snowboarding injury he longed to get behind the wheel. But sadly, his comeback wasn’t all that sweet either. Struggling to find his knack in his Camaro he missed out on making it to the playoffs. Regardless of that setback, hopes were that he would give Rick Hendrick consolation by at least bringing in the owner’s championship. Sadly, he failed in that mission too being knocked in the Round of 8.

Talking to the media ahead of Phoenix and in the final moments of the terrible season dying on him, he spoke about what could have been had it not for the snowboarding accident. He said, “If I had run those 7 races we would have likely made the Round of 8 like we did on the owner’s side. I think that’s a fair assessment. Just having run all the races, I would feel good about saying that. But, would we just miraculously be winning 5 races if I had run the 7, no I don’t think that’s a realistic take.”

Elliott’s modest answer would probably not have come if not for this year happening. But, the driver himself was willing to neither accept that the disadvantage had ruined his year nor that it had humbled him.

Elliott could still find consolation for a terrible year in Phoenix

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Continuing to the media, the Hendrick Motorsports star was asked if the year had been humbling. He replied, “I’ve been humbled a lot in my career so, no, I don’t think that’s necessarily a new lesson. I knew this stuff was hard long before now I guess.” Since Chase Elliott held the wheel of the #9 car he has been progressing to the playoffs every year. Except 2023.

Watch Story: The Unspoken Regret of a NASCAR Legend

His failure also means that he broke several of his own records. The seven consecutive appearances in the playoffs, the six consecutive appearances in the Round of 8, and the three consecutive appearances in the Championship 4 race are just a few stars in the sky for Elliott. Overweighing the assault of all these records is the fact that he hasn’t, as of yet, won a single race this year.

Can he grab some consolation for his own in these final seconds? A driver outside the Championship 4 has not won the finale since the current format was introduced. Will Elliott be the first person to do it? Over his last 5 appearances at the track, he has 3 top 5 finishes. But the coming race will not obey the laws of history. The drivers competing for the title will not make driving past them an easy do. In a scenario where wishing for Elliott to create an impact is the airiest of hopes, just maybe, luck would favor him.

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