Elliott’s Painful Pit Call Sparks Backlash
Chase Elliott had it all lined up at Dover Motor Speedway, the lead, the fastest car, and the chance to dominate from pole. But in a twist that left Dale Jr. stunned, Elliott pitted late, giving up track position on a surface where clean air is everything. That decision, led by crew chief Alan Gustafson, flipped the race on its head. Denny Hamlin, running on older tires, held strong through overtime and swiped the win from under Elliott’s nose.
Despite leading 238 laps and grabbing Stage 1, Elliott ended up sixth. For a driver who’s owned Dover—two wins — 10 top-fives in 14 starts — it was a bitter pill. The call didn’t sit right with many, including Dale Earnhardt Jr., who didn’t hold back on his podcast The Dale Jr. Download.
“Not the Same Driver”, Dale Jr. Questions Elliott’s Fire
Junior didn’t just stop at the pit strategy. He went deeper, questioning whether Elliott has truly bounced back since his 2023 leg injury suffered while snowboarding. “Chase hasn’t been the same driver,” Dale Jr. said. “Anytime a driver misses a lot of time, there’s this chance the team has a hard time getting traction again.”
That injury forced Elliott to miss six races last year and potentially derailed the rhythm he once had with the team. Dale Jr. believes both the physical setback and the learning curve of the Next Gen car are hampering Elliott’s usual edge. Since the injury, he’s only won twice and missed the playoffs in 2023 for the first time in his career.
Even though Elliott is grinding, leading laps and nailing top-10s, Junior notes something’s still off. The #9 car hasn’t quite clicked for Chase, despite the team’s efforts. “They’ve had a hard time getting the car to where he wants it,” Junior added, urging the crew to carry momentum forward.
Points Leader, but Still Searching for a Win
Elliott may have missed the win at Dover, but he still left with a silver lining — taking over the regular-season points lead with 702. That consistency includes 12 top-10s and zero DNFs, plus 48 points scored at Dover, third-best behind Hamlin and Bowman.
His 238 laps led were his most in a race since 2021, signaling that the pace is back. But is the killer instinct? The pit call and post-race frustration suggest there’s tension beneath the surface. Still, Elliott’s string of solid finishes — four top-5s in his last six — means the pieces might be falling back into place.
If he can maintain the points lead and claim those critical 15 playoff points, a championship run is very much on the table.
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