NASCAR insider Jeff Gluck discussed Chase Elliott's performances so far this season and feels that the driver for Hendrick Motorsports could pose a threat to the championship battle.
What did Jeff Gluck say about Chase Elliott?
The 2020 Cup Series champion Chase Elliott had secured his spot in the playoffs after winning at Texas this season. It is the only victory Elliott has had this year. Despite finishing in the top five multiple times, the 28-year-old driver is yet to add another win to his name.
While talking on the Teardown podcast, Gluck mentioned that Elliott is not performing to his full potential and he needs to have better finishes. "I think he has three top 10 and four starts here to open the playoffs all except for Watkins Glenn," Gluck said.
"He was eighth at Atlanta, second at Bristol, and ninth today. But you know you look at the points and you're like 'well you know, I guess they're all right,' but he's only plus four. So that's another mysterious one to me where you keep sort of thinking they're gonna be okay and they're gonna hit on something and he's gonna have this breakout race," Gluck added.
Gluck even feels that the #9 Chevy driver will be one of the four battling for the Cup Series championship and called him as a 'threat'.
"He’s certainly a threat, but am I going to be like ‘Oh year, he’s going to the final four. Oh, Chase Elliott.’ There’s very few people I can say that about at this point," Gluck concluded.
Chase Elliott finishes ninth after starting from the back of the grid
Chase Elliott showed encouraging signs during the practice session for the 2024 Hollywood Casino 400 in Kansas. After setting the fifteenth fastest lap during the session, his #9 Chevy faced engine issues.
The crew did everything possible in their hands to get the vehicle out for the qualifying session as Elliott managed to clock 166.950 mph which saw him start the 400-mile race from the back of the grid.
"We went through all the things that you can check on pit road. Obviously, when you have an engine issue like that, it can be difficult to identify what exactly is broke," Elliott said.
Despite the issues faced by Elliott on the track, his persistent driving saw him take the ninth spot overall and is currently placed +4 in the playoffs standings.
