Denny Hamlin expressed admiration for Chase Elliott’s recent performance, highlighting Elliott’s rise to the top of the NASCAR Cup Series points standings. During a recent episode of the Actions Detrimental podcast, Hamlin recounted how Elliott, who had been finishing between 10th and 15th place six weeks ago, has now surged to the points lead with consistent top finishes.
“Six weeks ago, he was 10th to 15th every week and then would finish in the top 10 because attrition and whatever, and now he’s leading,”
Hamlin remarked, offering insight into Elliott’s recent progress.
“A lot of it is [William] Byron‘s had a very tough couple months. All of us guys at the top, there was three or four of us that had major issues. Chase doesn’t have those.”
Evaluation of Elliott’s Performance at Dover Motor Speedway
Hamlin reflected on Elliott’s showed dominance at Dover Motor Speedway, where despite not winning, Elliott led 238 out of 407 laps and finished in sixth place. This was considered a strong manifestation of Elliott’s capabilities.
“To me it felt like one of his stronger performances,”
Hamlin said.
“…I just feel as though Chase is one of those guys that leads 100-200 laps in races, right? He’ll get you really good finishes and he’ll get you some wins, but it’s not dominating.”
Insights on Elliott’s Recent Consistency and Strength
Discussing Elliott’s car dominance throughout the Dover race, Hamlin noted that the No. 9 vehicle was particularly strong in the initial half of the contest. He recapped Elliott’s ascent from 112 points behind the leader after the Michigan Cup Series race to accumulating multiple top-five finishes, including a victory in Atlanta, capped by the Dover result.
“The nine car was the most dominant car for the first half of the race,”
Hamlin stated.
Hamlin Comments on Elliott’s Momentum and Crew Chief Scrutiny
Hamlin emphasized that Elliott’s recent surge extends beyond a single race, reflecting a marked improvement by the team. Despite Elliott’s strong form, his crew chief Alan Gustafson faced criticism from fans for a strategic decision to pit for two tires during the Dover race just before rainfall affected the track condition.
“He’s made a massive run, and it’s not just because of this one week,”
Hamlin observed.
“I’ve just feel like they’ve turned the corner, and they are stronger now than what they were.”
Responding to the backlash directed at Gustafson, Hamlin defended the calls made during the race.
That is so silly do, Hamlin commented about the criticism toward Gustafson.
“I get it. It’s always got to be someone’s fault why you didn’t win that day. But sometimes s**t just doesn’t work out. It’s called racing.”
Upcoming Challenges at the Brickyard 400
Looking ahead, Elliott will attempt to sustain his performance streak at the Brickyard 400, held Sunday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The Georgia native has competed in this event seven times, with two top-10 finishes recorded in the past. This race will present another opportunity for Elliott to consolidate his status as the Chase Elliott NASCAR Cup leader and build on his current momentum.