Chase Elliott in a race in the NASCAR Cup Series, which put him in the playoffs, the 2020 All-Star Race and recorded three consecutive results in the top 10.
Still, the impression is that Elliott is suffering in the Chevrolet No. nine Hendrick Motorsports, and he with that assessment.
“Yes, I think we’re having some problems, that’s for sure,” Elliott said at a national media career video convention on Monday. “I think, on the one hand, I would say that the slopes of Pocono, Indy, Kentucky and Texas are traditionally deficient for me personally.
“Maybe not from a data sheet, but those clues have been a challenge in the past. I think doing a little better in Kansas and Michigan. I don’t think we’re doing it the way we should. We’re not at our full potential.”
“Whether it’s me or something, I expect more from all of us, myself included, so yes, I think we’re gone.”
This turns out to be more of a Chevrolet camp challenge than an Elliott situation. Throughout 22 Cup races, the Chevy team has only won 3 times.
Elliott and the other Chevy drivers will have some wildcard opportunities at Daytona International Speedway this month, adding the Coke Zero Sugar 400 on August 29, the last regular Season of the Cup Series.
But the next level of the program is Sunday’s Go Bowling 235, which will take position on the Daytona circuit, the same circuit, with modifications, used for the Rolex 24 at Daytona. NASCAR has added an additional chicane area to slow down the cars a bit.
This occasion replaces a scheduled road race on a New York State track. The COVID-19 pandemic forced NASCAR to radically change its 2020 calendar.
The challenge for drivers? They’ll circle the 3.57-mile circuit until the green flag is waving at 3 p.m. And.
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“This weekend will be a big challenge for everyone,” Elliott said. “The only guy I’m seeing is Kyle Busch, after leaving this 24-hour occasion this year. Hell, I think if we knew we were going to do this race en route, you’d have noticed that we all checked the 24-hour race this year.”
“I think it will be a laughing challenge. I’ve never been in a race like this where you literally don’t know what to expect. Road racing is many brake markers, visual aids and small umbrellas around the track. Hell, I have no idea where to brake on curves 1, 2 or 3 to the end line.”
Elliott, at most other Cup drivers, said he would spend hours in the simulator to have at least the initial feel of this tour, which will be used for the Busch Clash 2021 exhibition race prior to the Daytona 500.
“We can do it until we’re sad, but at the end of the day, you don’t have the visual aids you want to do the right thing at the right time,” he said. “The only way to do that is to go around.
“We will have to be informed and be informed temporarily and check if we make serious mistakes while we do so.”
This Daytona occasion replaces Watkins Glen International on the Cup calendar. Turns out Elliott has a two-game streak at Glen.
“I spent a few smart years there, and it would have been great to come back and check again, but eventually I get it. I’m glad you passed the schedule for an autodrome,” he said. “I have nothing to say about it. I understand why. I appreciate NASCAR’s flexibility to make a difference and have an autodrome on the calendar.
“That’s all we can ask for, really. It will be a very big challenge for all drivers, which is good. We’re meant to be challenged. We are destined to be the most sensible thing in our car racing inventory. . »