Chase Elliott Insists “Seeding is Irrelevant” After Points Rest Post-Daytona

With Ryan Preece winning the Coke Zero Sugar 400, and eliminating Shane van Gisbergen, the final last-16 line-up for the 2026 Cup championship chase is set. Hendrick Motorsports’ Chase Elliott, who finished the race at a disappointing P23, has found himself seeded P8 in the rest points table for the ten-race final round.

He now has 2040 points, 60 behind Denny Hamlin, who won the regular season championship. It’s gap that can be closed with some luck and supreme consistency. Talking about the seeding, the No:9 Chevy driver asserted that seeding is irrelevant unless the driver cant find consistency throughout the final round.

Yeah, I mean, I think for us, we’ve obviously had a terrible stretch. We’ve had one good run over the course of the last number of months. So, the seeding is irrelevant if you don’t run well, right? Whether you’re on the front side of it in first or second, if you don’t run well, that’s not gonna work.

Chase Elliott said at Daytona.

Further in the conversation, Chase Elliott asserted that consistence performance and solid execution will be paramount for the drivers hoping to give a genuine fight for the championship. The new format is going to reward driver that are reliable and not the racers that gets one odd result in a month like the playoffs system.   

So, and same for us, right? You gotta perform at a high level. I think if you perform at a high level, your seeding, it can make it more challenging for sure. But performing and executing and all the things, running like we need to run, putting ourselves in better positions, that will be rewarded if we can go out and do that. So that’s the goal.

Chase Elliott added via motorsport.com.

Chase Elliott isn’t happy with his Daytona result

In the same conversation earlier, the racer also talked about how he performed in the regular season finale. There were some good moments, but as the race progressed the No:9 car started to give up on him and the wrong strategy also didn’t help.

Yeah, it was a couple shiny spots, I thought. You know, had ourself in an okay position there coming to that second stage. I knew it was gonna be a chore with those guys lined up behind us. But yeah, unfortunately, that went worse than I kinda thought it was gonna go. Was hoping to get a couple points there, would have been nice. But yeah, and then in the end, unfortunately, I got on the back side and the bad side of the strategy.

Chase Elliott said.

Furthermore, he asserted that he is still taking some positives from the tough weekend. The No:9 team inspired him with their efforts and it proved they have what it takes to be one of the championship contenders with ten races left in the season.

And yeah, it was kinda riding around there by ourselves, out back. And then caught that caution. And at that point, you’re just trying to stay out of the mess there at the end. So yeah, it was an up and down night for sure. Appreciate all the effort though on everybody from our NAPA 9 team and everybody with Chevrolet down here in Daytona, obviously. And all the hard work at Hendrick Motorsports over the course of the whole year, and I’m excited to see what we can do going into next week and kinda hit the reset button.

Chase Elliott added.

The comments from the veteran racer are on point and shows how the No:9 team remains hopeful despite the challenges. It would be interesting to see how everything is going to playout for the star drivers in the coming race weeks.

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