Chase Elliott’s Road Course Struggles: The Impact of the Next Gen Car

Chase Elliott, a seven-time road course winner in the NASCAR Cup Series, has found victory lane on these tracks elusive since 2021. Despite maintaining a strong average finish of 9.2 across 42 starts, the 2020 Cup Series champion has faced challenges adapting to the Next Gen car, leading to a drought in road course wins. Experts suggest the shift in vehicle dynamics has fundamentally altered the driving experience, impacting even the most skilled drivers like Elliott.

The Dominance Before the Next Gen Car

Prior to the introduction of the Next Gen car, Elliott was widely considered one of the premier road course racers in NASCAR. His seven wins demonstrate a clear aptitude for the technical nature of these tracks. However, his last victory on a road course came at Road America in 2021 [Source: SlicksandSticks.com]. Since then, he has secured three runner-up finishes, indicating continued competitiveness but an inability to close out wins.

The Next Gen Car: A Shifting Landscape

The arrival of the Next Gen car in 2022 has been identified as a key factor in Elliott’s struggles. Veteran NASCAR personalities Kyle Petty and Steve Letarte, during an episode of the Inside the Race podcast, attributed the change to the car’s altered feel and reduced driver feedback. [Source: TheSportsRush.com]

According to Letarte, a former crew chief for Hendrick Motorsports, the Next Gen car features significant mechanical differences compared to its predecessor, including five speeds instead of four, a sequential gearbox instead of an H-pattern, and larger brakes. These changes necessitate a different driving style and have seemingly diminished the “feel” that once allowed Elliott to excel.

A Loss of Intuition

Petty believes the Next Gen car has leveled the playing field, removing the subtle cues that previously gave Elliott an edge. The ability to “read” the car, a skill Elliott possessed with the older generation of vehicles, has been compromised. This isn’t a problem unique to Elliott; Kyle Busch and other drivers have also had to adapt to the novel package. [Source: TheSportsRush.com]

Recent Performance and Continued Pursuit

Despite the challenges, Elliott remains a competitive force on road courses. He started fifth and finished seventh at the Circuit of the Americas (COTA) this season. He also led three laps at Sonoma Raceway in 2024. [Source: TheSportsRush.com] However, in 23 road course starts since the introduction of the Next Gen car, he has finished outside the top 10 in eight races, signaling a clear shift in his performance trend.

Elliott’s Legacy and Future Goals

Chase Elliott, paired with crew chief Alan Gustafson, has achieved 21 points-paying victories and represents the longest-tenured driver-crew chief pairing in the Cup Series. [Source: Hendrick Motorsports] As he embarks on his 11th full-time season, Elliott aims to secure a second NASCAR Cup Series title. [Source: Hendrick Motorsports] Whether he can rediscover his road course dominance in the era of the Next Gen car remains to be seen, but his dedication and the expertise of his team suggest he will continue to challenge for wins.