NASCAR’s golden boy finds himself in a precarious situation as the playoffs approach. The 2020 title holder appears poised to miss the playoffs, casting a shadow of disappointment in the #9 garage. Adding to the disappointment, the team faced another setback during the recent Michigan outing, ending a season already marred by unfortunate events.

Kim Coon, pit reporter for NBC Sports’ NASCAR Cup, minced no words in a recent ‘Motorsports with NBC’ video. While bitter to digest, her candid comments reflect the team’s struggles as they face the imminent playoffs.

Kim Coon’s candid assessment of the Hendrick Motorsports No. 9 as he faces an uphill battle for playoff entry

Assessing the challenging situation Coon stated that while a chance exists for playoff entry, the team’s inconsistent season trends make it unlikely. Coon highlighted the necessity for perfect performance from the struggling team and multiple missteps from competitors to secure a playoff spot. 

“I think technically, mathematically he could still squeeze in but every single thing will have to go right for this team which has not been the trend this season and every single thing would have to go wrong for all of the other teams that are kind of within striking distance of one of those playoffs spots.”

She also emphasized that the upcoming three weeks require a “Do or Die” mentality and essential victories. Despite the team’s history of thriving under pressure, Coon notes their lack of strength this season, expressing skepticism.

Kim anticipates tough competition from stronger teams in the deep Cup field, making victory improbable for the #9 team. “I think it is going to have to be a Do or Die must win over the next three weeks for this team. They’ve proven in the past that they can perform under pressure, and they’ve had their backs against the wall, but I just have not seen that kind of strength and performance from them this season.”

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Ultimately, she predicted that this year might see the absence of Chase in the playoff field, acknowledging the formidable challenge ahead. “The Cup field is just too deep, there are too many other players that are so much stronger than the #9 team and so I think this is the year where we do not see Chase in the playoff field.”

Chase Elliott’s 2023 season: Michigan race adds to turmoil

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The recent Michigan race served as icing on the cake, or, in this case, added fuel to the fire that is Chase Elliott’s tumultuous 2023 season. With an injury and race suspension causing him to miss crucial events, the No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports star driver finds himself seemingly “drowning” in a winless drought. The Michigan race compounded Elliott’s dire situation, intensifying the challenges he faces in a season already marked by setbacks.

Chase Elliott had his sights set on a victory and a playoff berth at Michigan, yet his hopes were dashed when he crashed out on lap 35. The No. 9 Chevy Camaro from Hendrick Motorsports skidded out of control during Sunday’s race, its tire blowout causing a spin and collision with the outer wall. Consequently, relegating Elliott to an unsatisfactory 36th-place finish.

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Desperation grows as NASCAR enthusiasts converge at Indy this weekend as Chase aims to rebound from Michigan’s setback. Elliott’s victory quest for a playoff spot promises a high-stakes faceoff.