Chase Elliott and No. 9 Team Ready to Dominate Heading into Nashville

Chase Elliott and the No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports team are heading to Nashville Superspeedway in a strong position among NASCAR Cup Series contenders. Elliott is ranked fourth in the current championship standings, making him the top driver in points who hasn’t landed a win this year.

Through the first 13 races of the season, Elliott has notched seven top-10 results and three top-fives. His best finishes so far have been fourth place at Circuit of The Americas and at Martinsville Speedway, showing steady performance across different tracks.

Elliott has shown a real knack for racing at Nashville’s 1.33-mile concrete oval. In 2022, he took the checkered flag there and followed up last year with a fourth-place finish, adding to his reputation as a tough competitor on that surface.

Looking beyond Nashville, Elliott has also run well at Michigan International Speedway, recording 10 top-10s and three runner-up results across just 14 starts at that track. These statistics highlight his ability to contend at a variety of venues, keeping him in the hunt each week.

After a solid performance last week at Charlotte Motor Speedway, Elliott spoke about the effort behind the team’s consistency. He said the car felt strong and credited that progress to hard work from every crew member.

Elliott emphasized that the team’s focus remains on steady improvement, working together race after race to fine-tune every detail and aim for stronger results. This collective mindset has put the No. 9 Chevrolet in a strong position in a competitive field.

While Elliott is pleased with their place in the standings, he made it clear that just scoring points isn’t his ultimate goal. The 2020 Cup Series champion’s last victory came at Texas Motor Speedway more than a year ago.

Looking ahead, he hopes to go beyond just qualifying for the playoffs, instead setting higher expectations for himself and his team by aiming for wins and stacking up playoff points. He believes that focusing only on making the cut isn’t enough if the team wants to challenge for a championship.

Elliott acknowledged that being fourth in points is better than fighting from behind, but said he measures success by higher standards. He wants the No. 9 group to be not just in the playoffs, but among the teams with the most playoff points and the clearest shot at a title.

Each weekend, the focus remains on chipping away at improvements, putting together complete races, and keeping pressure on the leaders. With events like the Cracker Barrel 400 coming up at Nashville Superspeedway, Elliott and his team are poised to keep building on their results.

As the season continues, fans can watch for Elliott’s efforts to turn consistent top-10 finishes into trips to victory lane. The Nashville race marks another chance for him to close the gap and strengthen his push for the playoffs.