Chase Elliott’s Saturday night at Daytona did not unfold as he had hoped.
The No. 9 driver endured a frustrating conclusion to the Coke Zero Sugar 400, finishing 23rd. A late‑race incident triggered by Carson Hocevar forced the event into overtime, leaving Elliott mired in the pack and unable to mount a charge during the final two‑lap sprint.
Elliott voiced his disappointment after the race, acknowledging that he had aimed to boost his standing in the points table ahead of the Chase.
“Unfortunately, that turned out worse than I had anticipated. I was hoping to pick up a few points here, so it’s disappointing.”
Despite being unable to improve his position, Elliott will begin the postseason in eighth, yet he emphasized that the key factor moving forward is performance, not seeding.
“We have clearly struggled through a difficult stretch, with only one strong result in recent months,” Elliott noted. “Seeding becomes meaningless if you don’t perform.”
Elliott has managed only one top‑10 result since late June, but the Chase’s points reset gives the No. 9 outfit a clean slate. Although they remain behind, a handful of strong performances can quickly shift the momentum.
“Whether you sit at the front in first or second, lack of performance won’t get you anywhere. The same applies to us—you must execute at a high level,” he said. “If we perform at a high level, our seeding may make things tougher, but executing as needed and placing ourselves in stronger positions will be rewarded. That’s our goal.”
The opening race of the Chase is scheduled for next weekend at Darlington.
Watch: Preece wins in chaotic Daytona finish for first points-paying victory
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