Chase Elliott’s Crucial Win Bid at Martinsville Speedway

Chase Elliott entered the NASCAR Cup Series playoff elimination race at Martinsville Speedway on November 3, 2024, with a clear mission: win to advance to the Championship 4. Elliott, who qualified second for the race, was in a must-win situation, sitting 43 points below the cutline.

Elliott’s confidence was high, given his team’s performance in the last two weeks, which he described as the best since the end of 2022. He reflected on his past success at Martinsville, where he won in 2020 to advance to the championship race, which he subsequently won the following week.

In the Xfinity 500, Elliott started strong, capturing the Stage 1 victory over his Hendrick Motorsports teammate William Byron. Despite facing intense competition, Elliott held off Byron to take the stage win, setting a positive tone for the rest of the race.

However, the final stages of the race saw Elliott in a fierce battle with other drivers, particularly Ryan Blaney and Kyle Larson. Although Elliott eventually took the lead with 24 laps to go, he was overtaken by Blaney, who secured the win. Elliott finished second in the race, narrowly missing the victory he needed to automatically advance to the Championship 4.

Elliott’s performance highlighted his determination and the high stakes involved in the playoff elimination race. Despite not securing the win, his second-place finish kept him in contention, though ultimately, he did not advance to the Championship 4.