Chase Elliott and Hendrick Motorsports are navigating a tense playoff push, with the No. 9 driver sitting 11th in the standings and holding a slim nine-point cushion above the cutline. All four Hendrick cars made the playoffs, but Alex Bowman clings to 15th, 19 points below the line after a season without a win. The team’s Darlington outing was a low point, as none of their drivers cracked the top 15, with Elliott’s 17th-place finish the best result. This comes amid just six victories for the organization this season, highlighting the urgent need for a turnaround.

As Gateway looms—a track where Elliott averages a 17.0 finish without ever reaching the top 10—the focus sharpens on addressing weaknesses. Hendrick’s drivers, including heavy hitters like Kyle Larson and William Byron,

See Full Page