Starting out with a DNF at the Daytona 500, the 2023 season hasn’t been fruitful for Chase Elliott. Further plagued by an injury and a one-race suspension, the Hendrick Motorsports No. 9 Chevy missed out on seven races this season. Unable to break free from his poor performance slump, the HMS star currently ranks 23rd in the NASCAR Cup Series standings.

Fans, veterans, and the team are expecting him to make the playoffs. Even Chase Elliott has given a potential sign for his expectations in the remaining races. A few days ahead of the Pocono 400 Cup Series race, Chase Elliott made a painful admission in the pre-race presser.

Chase Elliott expresses his disappointment 

Rejoining the Cup Series championship chase at Sonoma following his suspension, Chase Elliott was beaming with confidence. Determined to turn his lackluster season on its head, the No. 9 Chevy started his leaderboard ascension, ranking 5th at Sonoma, 4th at Nashville, and 3rd at Chicago.

However, rolling into Atlanta for the Quaker State 400, the HMS #9 driver’s slump returned, awarding him a 13th-place finish. And The Crayon 301 race was no different, as Elliott finished in the 12th spot, leaving the #9 HMS team doubting his performance.

Disappointed by his diminishing high points run, the #9 HMS driver opened up about his recent poor performance. Speaking to media personnel in the pre-race press conference at Pocono Raceway, Chase Elliott said, “Yeah, I mean we had a couple of good runs that I thought were trending in the right direction. Loudon was terrible. We struggled all weekend really, which I was disappointed and I think as a team, we all were.

“We had a good test up there a couple of months ago and it hasn’t been a great track for me, so I was super excited to get some extra laps, and go up there and try to get better at a place that hasn’t been super good”, he added.

“I thought we did that and made a lot of gains, and went back and we were just horrendous. We didn’t really understand why – we came back in a very similar manner to when we left and we just missed. That stuff happens, unfortunately,” Elliott exclaimed further.

Although disappointed in his performance, the HMS star did brandish a positive outlook during the course of the pre-race presser.

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Elliott stands firm in the face of adversity

Earlier this season, Chase Elliott was granted a waiver by NASCAR, which required him to secure a win for a spot in the playoffs. Unable to capitalize on the opportunity, Elliott blamed himself for the #9 Hendrick Motorsports team’s disappointing performance. With just six races left for the conclusion of the 2023 Cup Series’ regular season, the HMS star now seems to have donned the positivity cloak again.

Expecting to get back on his winning pace, Chase Elliott, during the Pocono pre-race presser also said, “Yeah, didn’t have the run we wanted to have last weekend obviously, but I thought the prior three to four weeks to my recollection were certainly better and in the ballgame. That was good, and it’s in there, we just have to extract it.”

Having won at the Pocono Raceway last season, can Chase Elliott claim the Pocono 400 race win for a second consecutive time? Stay connected to find out.

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