Ahead of Sunday’s second playoff race, NASCAR analyst Steve Letarte is keeping an eye on Chase Elliott as a potential standout. With the Straight Talk Wireless 400 coming up at Homestead-Miami Speedway, Letarte hinted that Elliott could be the driver to watch. Speaking on the Inside The Playoffs podcast with other NASCAR experts, Letarte shared his thoughts on the lineup, noting that if Elliott were to win, it wouldn’t surprise him one bit.
Letarte pointed to Joey Logano as an example of a playoff driver who seized victory just last weekend at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, clinching his spot in the Championship 4. When asked if a surprise winner might emerge at Homestead, Letarte was clear in his belief that a playoff driver is likely to take the win again. “I don’t have a surprise winner,” Letarte stated. “Now, it depends—do you think Chase Elliott’s a surprise?” He explained that while others might see Elliott’s victory as unexpected, for him, it would be a natural outcome of the driver’s capabilities and playoff positioning.
Elliott, currently sitting at the bottom of the playoff standings, has faced a challenging season, being 53 points below the cutline. Despite his struggles, his previous win at Texas proved he’s still a serious contender in the championship fight. A second Cup Series title is within reach if he can capitalize on his playoff momentum.
Not everyone shares Letarte’s confidence in Elliott’s chances at Homestead. Veteran NASCAR expert Kevin Harvick voiced skepticism, attributing Elliott’s season-long struggle to a “lack of speed” that could limit his potential at Homestead. Harvick acknowledged Elliott’s consistency but questioned if he has the pace needed to truly dominate the race. “I don’t know… they’ve been consistent, just a bit short on the speed needed to control a race,” Harvick commented.
For Harvick, a driver to watch could be Martin Truex Jr., who isn’t in the playoffs but might find a chance to shine on the Homestead track. Meanwhile, Elliott’s season stats have been mixed, with only one victory across 34 races, an average starting position of 12th, and 17 finishes in the top 10. Whether he can defy expectations this weekend remains to be seen, but one thing is certain—Elliott will have a lot to prove on the Homestead stage.
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