Chase Elliott enters Phoenix Raceway fifth in NASCAR Cup Series standings, seeking to reverse a lukewarm track record for Hendrick Motorsports at the 1-mile oval.
Despite winning the 2020 championship there, the No. 9 Chevrolet driver has struggled in the Next Gen era, managing just nine top-10 finishes in 17 starts. A fourth-place rebound at Circuit of the Americas last week reignited momentum, but Phoenix’s unique layout poses a fresh test.
Hendrick Motorsports, meanwhile, arrives with a series-leading 13 Phoenix wins and six top-10 finishes this season. Elliott’s teammates, points leader William Byron, Kyle Larson, and hometown hopeful Alex Bowman, aim to extend that dominance.
Chase Elliott Confronts Phoenix Challenges
Elliott’s Phoenix résumé includes 553 laps led and a 2020 victory that clinched his first championship, but the Next Gen car has tempered his success. In five starts since 2022, he’s led only 57 laps with an average finish of 16.4.
“Phoenix hasn’t necessarily been a strong track for us in the Next Gen,” Elliott admitted via Speedway Media. “But we made some headway there last fall, so I’m looking forward to seeing how we stack up this weekend.”
Hendrick Motorsports Media Advance: Phoenixhttps://t.co/OdZsRowVxg
— Speedway Digest (@speedwaydigest) March 6, 2025
His 2025 season mirrors this inconsistency. His fourth-place finish at COTA showed resilience, but early incidents at Daytona and Atlanta left him battling from behind. Crew chief Alan Gustafson could be key, a four-time Phoenix winner with different drivers. Elliott emphasized execution.
“I think right now, for us, we just want to have a good clean race,” Elliott said. “The team has put in the work to bring fast Chevrolets for me each week.”
Byron’s hot streak contrasts Elliott’s hurdles. His teammate leads the standings with eight top-10s at Phoenix and an 11.1 average finish. “We definitely have some good momentum on our side and are really clicking and executing at a high level,” Byron said.
Hendrick Motorsports Banks on Momentum
The organization’s Phoenix dominance includes 58 top-five finishes and 3,570 laps led — both NASCAR records. Larson, whose 2021 title win came via a fast pit stop, stressed improvement: “Hendrick Motorsports are working hard so that we can take a step up in Phoenix,” Larson said via Speedway Media.
Bowman, racing near his hometown of Tucson, Ariz., faces his own hurdles. His 21.9 average Phoenix finish is the worst among Hendrick drivers, but running both the Xfinity and Cup races could give him extra track time.
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“Winning at my hometown track would be pretty cool,” Bowman said via Speedway Media. “Turns 1 and 2 are very flat and then you have Turns 3 and 4 that have banking so you can’t set your car up for one corner you have to compromise from end to end.”
Elliott’s focus remains on adapting. With Gustafson’s experience and Hendrick’s resources, a turnaround is possible. But as the Next Gen era continues to shake up NASCAR’s competitive landscape, Phoenix will be another test of whether past success still translates to today’s racing.
