The race at Martinsville proved to be yet another instance after which Chase Elliott crossed yet another race week without a win. A little glance to his left and right, all his teammates have won a race.

There’s one circle on Kyle Larson’s calendar, one on Alex Bowman’s, and now two on William Byron’s. Everybody has a win except him.

Yet one might think the silver lining in this situation for NASCAR’s Most Popular driver would be that at least his teammates are performing well, taking their cars to the victory lane, right?

Steve Letarte doesn’t think so.

In fact, it’s quite the opposite for the former Hendrick Motorsports man as he gave his own example of being in a team in which you’re the only one who doesn’t win while your teammates do.

“It hurts. It hurts when your teammate beats you,” Letarte said. “I was beaten by Jimmie Johnson countless times, I know. It hurts less when someone else beats you because you think they might have something you don’t.”

He also mentioned the “tough conversations” that Elliott and his crew chief Alan Gustafson need to have.

“The (No.) 9  car is a real conversation that, I’m not saying Alan and Chase have to have, but he’s gonna have to start answering these questions in the media. And the good media members are gonna ask those questions whether it upsets Chase or not.” Letarte said.

“So I just think as long as Chase and Alan can have those tough conversations together, they’re gonna be fine. And knowing Alan, they’re willing to.”

Chase Elliott had the car to win at Martinsville according to Steve Letarte

Despite leading the major chunk of the race, Chase Elliott saw his teammate William Byron take the checkered flag for his second win of the season at Martinsville.

However, Steve Letarte feels the No.9 driver had the car himself to take the checkered flag too.

“I thought at one point or for a big chunk of the race, they had a race-winning car,” Letarte said.

“So the other races I feel like they didn’t win but didn’t have the car to win. And I think for 180 laps in that race they had the car to win.”

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