Chase Elliott Expresses Optimism Despite Setback in NASCAR Playoffs
NASCAR Cup Series driver Chase Elliott, following an incident with Kyle Busch, reflected on the challenges of the regular season as he heads toward the playoffs.
After Busch inadvertently caused Elliott to crash during the Richmond race on Aug. 16, Elliott's hopes for the regular-season championship were diminished. The contact on Lap 199 resulted in Elliott's first DNF of the season.
“Kyle did reach out to me; he apologized for what happened,” Elliott stated on Aug. 19. “I was never mad at him. It was a mistake.”
Despite the setback, Elliott remains focused. He currently sits in second place in the Cup Series standings, 61 points behind leader William Byron, ahead of the regular season finale at Daytona on Aug. 23.
“It sucks and I hate it,” Elliott remarked, acknowledging the impact on his championship ambitions. He remains confident heading into the playoffs, having secured 13 top-10 finishes this season and a victory at Atlanta on June 28.
Elliott also emphasized understanding Busch's perspective, noting, “When that stuff happens, it's hard to recognize where everyone is.”
Busch finished the Richmond race in 16th place. Elliott won the regular-season championship in 2022 and the overall championship in 2020.