The 2023 NASCAR Cup Series season was a challenging one for Chase Elliott.
Elliott, 28, went winless for the first time since his sophomore season in 2017, and finished a career-low 17th in the points standings. He missed six races earlier in the season after injuring his left leg in a snowboarding accident. He had some success upon returning, finishing with seven top 5s and 15 top 10s, though it wasn’t enough to get him into the playoffs.
Elliott told The Associated Press he doesn’t blame the dip in performance due to the injury, but rather attributes it to the struggles from the end of the 2022 season carrying over into 2023. Elliott won five races that season but finished in the top-10 just once in the final five races of the season, finishing last in the four-driver title field.
“I certainly don’t blame the injury. I don’t think my knee had anything to do with our performance,” Elliott said ahead of Sunday’s Daytona 500. “It would be really easy for me to take that excuse, but I just don’t think it is valid. I think the things we struggled with last year were the things we were struggling with at the end of ’22. And they rolled over into last season.”
Chase Elliott explains his goals heading into Daytona 500, 2024 NASCAR season
Heading into the 2024 campaign, Elliott’s focus is on getting back to what made him a Cup Series champion in 2020 and one of the best drivers in the sport. For Elliott, that means staying competitive and in the mix week in and week out.
“The biggest thing is just getting competitive on a weekly basis,” Elliott said. “I want to win and want to put up big numbers like everyone does. But for me right now and our team, truthfully, the goal of mine is just being competitive on a weekly basis, just consistently be a contender. That’s all I’ve ever been after because I am a believer if you are a consistent contender each week, and if you are someone who shows up and has opportunities to win each week, you will get your share and be a car and driver that doesn’t surprise anyone with their results.”
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