Chase Elliott Has Been Underrated This Season

Wins and modern NASCAR have a weird relationship, and that’s all because of the playoffs. Now, wins are everything. They lock you into the playoffs, help you advance through them, and in many cases, clinch them on the final day. But many fans hate the playoffs, loving the consistency-based Winston system better.

Season Recap

Chase Elliott’s only win came at Echopark Speedway, not counting the Bowman Gray Clash win he earned in the preseason, since that doesn’t count. This has played into a narrative that was stronger before his home state win. While he is one of the most consistent drivers in the garage, he doesn’t have the pace and therefore doesn’t get the wins like teammates Byron or Larson do. He’s better than Bowman, though. While that’s true, it underestimates how consistent he is and how much more consistent he has been than his teammates.

Chase Elliott Is the Current Points Leader

That should not come as a shock. Chase Elliott doesn’t lead in average finish; he dominates, having an average finish of 10.0, which is 2.6 ahead of second-place Christopher Bell’s 12.6. This puts Elliott above all of his teammates. He has been consistent in the Next Gen, except for his injury year in 2023. He ended 2024 as the leader in average finish with an 11.7, beating Bell’s 12.8 by a whole 1.1. That is pretty great!

Even in 2022, he led in average finish with 12.5, beating out Ross Chastain’s 13.3. So if it’s been business as usual, why are Chase Elliott fans making noise about better performance? Well, not exactly. Let’s get more into it!

Lack Of Wins Is an Issue

From 2020 to 2022, Chase Elliott had 12 wins, but from 2023 to 2025, he’s had 2. That is a steep dip. I understand how off-putting it feels seeing someone semi-regularly or rarely, but is it really all Alan Gustafson’s fault? NASCAR fans have always been skeptical of the longtime Hendrick crew chief. Because of his bad strategy calls and iffy adjustments, fans went back to the same playbook. While that has played a role, there is something else Chase Elliott fans are missing!

A Window Into a Bigger Problem!

In the Next Gen era, Elliott has never been in the top 5 in average starts. With 2025 being pretty disappointing so far, he has not even entered the top 10 in average start. With track position being so important in the Next Gen, as proven by the fact that every year, the driver with the best average finish has had multiple wins.

This places him into a bigger problem, though, which is his lack of aggression. Chase Elliott is quite skilled at conserving his equipment while racing others aggressively. A balance that worked perfectly in the Gen 6 era, but with the Next Gen, the strategy isn’t as viable. He must put himself in better starting spots and push more aggressively than he has before.

Should a Lack Of Wins Impact His Standing?

I would say so because you can win a race by pure luck, but ten straight top fives is pure skill and therefore is a better measure of what the skill of a racecar driver is supposed to be. Not to say his teammates with multiple wins, like Larson and Byron, aren’t talented—they are very, but it’s a different kind of talent. The ability to dominate some races versus finishing them in the top 10. Look at SVG, who historically dominates the road course but struggles everywhere else. No one is picking him for the title.