Great performances attract great expectations. In the fast-moving world of NASCAR, where no one waits for another, slumps can be taken rather harshly. At the beginning of the season, if anyone was told that Chase Elliott would not be competing in the playoffs this season, there are, high chance that they would find it unbelievable. A twist in the tale has ensured that the unbelievable possibility has turned into a reality.

Elliott has had a lot on his plate recently, competing for accolades and preparing for 2024 in the postseason. However, overcoming challenges is part of the ebb and flow of being a race car driver, and Elliott seems to be doing exactly that.

Chase Elliott lands a top-five starting spot at Kansas

Hendrick Motorsports had a fairly good outing on Saturday in Kansas. Kyle Larson maintained his red-hot form from Darlington to find a P1 finish. This means he’ll continue from where he left off at Darlington and has a high chance of making it 2 in 2 in the #5 Camaro. Chase Elliott was the other driver to finish in the top 5, finishing P4.

The #9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevy ran strong at Kansas qualifying with a time of 30.227 seconds. Elliott will be in search of a second win at the track after winning the fall race in 2018. Although inconsequential, winning the race will give Chase some much-needed confidence going into next season.

Elliott’s tweet read, “Starting P4 tomorrow“.

Chase Elliott fans will be looking forward to a great race from him, especially after a disappointing regular season that ended with him not qualifying for the last 16. A win from him will ruin the chances of one driver who would be hoping to make it to the next round of the final 12.

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A nightmarish season for Elliott

The 2023 season will be a forgettable phase in Elliott’s NASCAR memories. Even after coming close to pointing his way into the playoffs, NASCAR’s most popular driver of the last five years couldn’t materialize a dream run.

After missing six races with a tibia injury, Chase Elliott looked like he forced a return to not miss out on more points. Cutting off six races from the sample space is a big deal, especially in such a competitive field. As the season went on, more tragedy befell him. At Charlotte, he was slapped with a one-race ban for intentionally hooking Denny Hamlin. This completely shifted the momentum in the opposite direction for him.

The remaining races might have been tough to win, and Elliott, sadly, couldn’t make the most of his chances. Finishing second to Shane van Gisbergen at Chicago was an unexpected development in the buildup. Another moment could most definitely be him coming second to Michael McDowell at Indianapolis, which is the second-last road course of the season.

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Not just Chase’s injuries, but mechanical issues and pit crew blunders also acted against him. To summarize things, his season has completely gone off track. The news of him starting P4 at Kansas will come as a solace for his fans, but the time to recuperate has already passed.