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NASCAR Monday Mash-Up: Chase Elliott runs out of fuel and time heading into Daytona
Mandatory Credit: Matthew O'Haren-USA TODAY Sports

NASCAR Monday Mash-Up: Chase Elliott runs out of fuel and time heading into Daytona

Originally posted on 5 GOATs  |  By Jonathan Howard  |  Last updated 8/21/23

Looking back on the NASCAR weekend, Chase Elliott didn’t just run out of gas at Watkins Glen. He also ran out of time. With just one more race in the regular season to claim his checkered flag and a spot in the playoffs, Elliott has nowhere else to go.

Of course, this weekend didn’t start with Cup Series action. We got started with some fun Xfinity Series racing and we saw DRAMA. Once again, Ty Gibbs managed to find himself close to Sam Mayer in one of these races.

The two have gotten physical both on and off the track in the past. So, when Gibbs made contact with Mayer going into the bus stop, people raised their eyebrows.

However, seeing Mayer wheel-hop into Gibbs and outrun Sheldon Creed on the last lap – was NASCAR drama at its finest. Fans picked sides, opinions were shared by both drivers on what happened, and we got a great spark of an old rivalry back for a few minutes.

This move took out Gibbs and Austin Hill on the final lap. It was something that Hill took offense to after the race. He was actually fuming in his post-race interview. If it hadn’t been for that move, Hill would have been a top-5 car on the day and built more playoff points.

“He can kiss my a--,” Hill said of Mayer after the race.

I feel like if Chase Elliott had that same opportunity in the Cup Series race, he would have taken it without thinking twice. Mayer earned the second win of his career and this season in the Xfinity Series, and Gibbs went on to rub his 12 victories in Mayer’s face.

It doesn’t hurt that he races on Sundays, too.

Chase Elliott falls a lap short at Watkins Glen

The Cup Series weekend started with the Chase Elliott buzz at an all-time high. A track he won at twice already, one he’s performed well at almost every year he’s been in the Cup Series. If he was going to win a race, this was going to be the time to do it.

Then qualifying happened. Elliott was P15.

Denny Hamlin would win the pole. Michael McDowell and Wiliam Byron also showed early speed. Hamlin lost the lead to McDowell. Then the Indy Road Course winner got himself into trouble.

McDowell could have competed for another win but two pit road penalties and an electrical issue put his day to an end as he finished P36.

With a lot of green flag racing, we didn’t get a ton of action in this race. The one caution came as Chase Elliott slowed to a stop and ran out of fuel.

This caused a ton of Elliott fans to go online and shout their complaints. Some fans want to see Alan Gustafson fired as crew chief of the No. 9 team. Meanwhile, others are starting to accept that their favorite driver won’t make the playoffs.

What doesn’t help is the fact that William Byron ran so well on Sunday. Kyle Larson had a rocket until he had a pit road penalty himself. It doesn’t help you feel better watching your teammate do burnouts in victory lane.

We also saw an incident between Austin Dillon and Kyle Larson after the race. The two had a conversation on pit road when it was said and done.

Bubba Wallace  had a great performance points-wise at Watkins Glen. He was able to build his lead and add to the cushion he had coming into the race. With Daytona coming up, Wallace will hope Chase Elliott or another winless driver doesn’t steal that playoff spot from him.

One more race until we get to the playoffs. The best time of the year.

This article first appeared on 5 GOATs and was syndicated with permission.

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