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Star NASCAR driver Chase Elliott recently shared his thoughts on the heated discussion surrounding the win-and-you’re-in playoff system. The conversation was reignited by Harrison Burton’s triumph at Daytona, which allows the #21 Wood Brothers Racing driver to compete for the championship, even though he currently sits in 34th place in the standings.
In a recent chat with Bob Pockrass, Elliott was asked if he had any concerns about the playoff entry criteria. The #9 Hendrick Motorsports driver expressed his excitement for Burton’s victory and acknowledged that the governing body has the authority to change the playoff format if they choose.
Elliott, whose net worth is estimated at $12 million according to Celebrity Net Worth, emphasized that Burton and Wood Brothers Racing have adhered to NASCAR’s rules, earning their playoff spot through their performance. He argued that questioning Burton’s eligibility would be unjust since no rules were violated.
“That’s a tough one! I have plenty of thoughts on it, but I trust them to make the decisions. As for last weekend, Harrison did a fantastic job,” Elliott remarked.
“I’m genuinely happy for them. They aren’t the ones who set the rules; NASCAR does that. This is the situation and the format they’ve established. Sometimes, the cards just fall in a certain way, like they did on Saturday night. So, for any of us to question that would be unfair because this is the reality, and they took full advantage of the format,” he concluded.
In the past, NASCAR had a regulation that barred drivers outside the top 30 in the Cup Series standings from participating in the playoffs. However, this rule was eliminated before the start of the 2023 season.
This season, Chase Elliott and Harrison Burton are in the race for the championship, with three playoff spots still available as they approach the regular season finale at Darlington Raceway.
As NASCAR heads back to Darlington Raceway for the Southern 500, which marks the conclusion of the 2024 Cup Series regular season, three drivers are vying for the title. Tyler Reddick currently leads the standings with 823 points, holding a 17-point advantage over Kyle Larson and an 18-point lead over Chase Elliott.
Elliott’s did-not-finish (DNF) at Daytona has made it more challenging for him to catch up to Reddick, and he also lost ground to his Hendrick Motorsports teammate Larson. Securing the regular season title is vital for the #9 driver, especially since he has accumulated fewer playoff points than his competitors.
Chase Elliott faces an uphill battle to outscore Reddick and Larson at Darlington, particularly with Larson being the reigning champion of the Southern 500. Earlier this season, Reddick dominated the race, leading 174 laps, and he was a strong contender last year, leading 90 laps and finishing in second place.
After winning the regular season championship in 2022, Elliott is determined to claim his second title and achieve his first crown jewel victory on September 1 at Darlington.