Chase Elliott certainly delivered a memorable performance at the 2024 Bass Pro Shops Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway, securing a second-place finish that has the NASCAR world buzzing. While Kyle Larson stole the show with a dominant race, leading an astounding 462 of the 500 laps, Elliott’s impressive finish in the closing stages wasn’t overshadowed. In fact, it was his second-highest finish of the season, following his earlier win at Texas Motor Speedway. For Elliott fans, this was a hopeful sign that the No. 9 driver is peaking at just the right time as the playoff round of 12 looms large.
Heading into Bristol, not many would have predicted such a strong showing from Elliott. Qualifying ninth, he started the race behind lesser-known names like Corey LaJoie and Carson Hocevar. His performance in the early stages of the race wasn’t much to write home about, either. Elliott ended Stage 1 as the lowest-ranked Hendrick Motorsports driver, struggling to find momentum and staying out of the top 10 by the end of Stage 2. It seemed like it was going to be another tough outing for Elliott, who’s had an up-and-down season to say the least.
But, as is often the case with champions, it’s not how you start but how you finish. And Elliott turned things around in the final 250 laps, slowly climbing his way through the field. Benefiting from long green-flag runs, he made critical moves in traffic, eventually finishing second. It was the first time this season he managed a runner-up finish, and it couldn’t have come at a better time.
NASCAR insider Brad Gillie weighed in on Elliott’s Bristol performance, noting that this race was quintessential of his season. “They literally did on Saturday night what they’ve done all season long,” said Gillie on the GoPRNLive podcast. “I mean, they’ve got what? Two races? With all finishes inside the top 20, most of those being top-10 finishes, they’ve been consistent.”
Elliott has been consistent, no doubt, but consistency isn’t always enough in the high-stakes world of NASCAR. As Gillie pointed out, this race, along with his earlier Texas win, was the closest Elliott has come to showing potential winning speed. His second-place finish wasn’t just a matter of luck—it was a result of solid strategy and execution. But even that couldn’t put him on the same level as Larson, whose sheer dominance at Bristol was awe-inspiring. Larson’s ability to navigate traffic effortlessly was the key difference, and despite having the same setup, Elliott just couldn’t match Larson’s pace.
Still, Elliott has every reason to carry confidence into the playoff round of 12. His performance at Bristol signals that the No. 9 Chevy team is heading in the right direction, and with seven critical races left in the season, Elliott has the chance to make a serious run for the championship. Currently sitting seventh in the drivers’ standings, Elliott trails Larson by just 33 points. That’s not an insurmountable gap, especially considering Elliott’s knack for stepping up when it matters most.
Despite the rivalry between the two Hendrick Motorsports drivers, Elliott was full of praise for Larson after the race. He recognized just how dominant his teammate was at ‘The Last Great Colosseum’ and didn’t hesitate to give Larson credit where it was due. “Kyle did a better job than I did getting through traffic,” Elliott said. “That was the difference. He got a few cars’ gap on me. There was one point in time where we were able to make some time and I pushed really hard when he was hung up with the 19. You know once he got by the 19, it was going to be really tough.”
Elliott’s acknowledgment of Larson’s skill is telling. It shows a level of respect between the two drivers, despite the intense competition they face on a weekly basis. But for Elliott, it’s also a sign that he knows where he needs to improve if he’s going to make a serious run at the Cup Series title.
The good news for Elliott fans is that he’s peaking at the right time. As we head into the final seven races of the season, consistency will be key, and Elliott has proven time and again that he knows how to finish strong. With tracks like Texas and Martinsville still ahead, Elliott has the chance to close the gap on Larson and position himself for a deep playoff run. And once he reaches Phoenix for the championship race, anything can happen. The 1-mile oval is notorious for producing unexpected results, and if Elliott can get there in contention, he may finally break free from Larson’s shadow and lift the elusive Cup Series title.
As the season winds down, all eyes will be on Elliott. Can he maintain the momentum he built at Bristol and carry it through the playoffs? Or will Larson continue to dominate, leaving Elliott to play catch-up once again? One thing’s for sure—this season is far from over, and Chase Elliott is ready to make his mark.
Chase Elliott Set to Challenge Kyle Larson’s Bristol Dominance
