Chase Elliott Interview
About this episode
Chase Elliott talks through the mindset behind early-season wins, explaining how the new NASCAR “Chase” format rewards consistent top-six performance and makes winning every week more valuable than simply staying solid. He credits his crew chief Alan Gustafson for a relationship built on mutual respect, trust, and tough conversations, and describes how the current car demands relearning feel and adapting week to week. Elliott also breaks down a Martinsville strategy call, his team’s data-driven communication, and a memorable Bristol moment with Kevin Harvick—plus the special experience of racing against his dad in SRX.
new chase format
"but with the new chase format and everything that comes with that, I mean, how much more important is it to get yourself,"
NASCAR has a playoff system for the championship. The “new chase format” means the rules for how drivers advance and how points work changed, so teams have to plan differently across the whole season.
The “chase format” refers to NASCAR’s postseason structure that determines how drivers qualify for the championship and how points are reset/managed. When the format changes, it changes strategy—especially how early-season wins and consistency affect your ability to contend late.
top six
"I still feel like you've got to be in that top six at the reset to win the championship, is that fair? I would say so."
The “top six” is basically a top-position goal in the playoffs. If you’re in that group when the points reset, you’re much closer to winning the championship and you don’t have to play catch-up.
“Top six” describes a specific cutoff/target position after the postseason reset that strongly affects championship odds. In NASCAR’s playoff math, being in those upper positions can reduce the amount of ground you need to make later.
runway is much longer now
"But the more I've kind of thought about it, I've almost lean more in the direction exactly like what you're talking and the sense of, yeah, it is a, the runway is much longer now, right?"
He’s saying the championship fight lasts longer now, so you have more races to build your case. That means consistency over time matters more than just one early win.
“Runway” is a metaphor for the length of time drivers have to build and maintain championship position under the current format. A longer runway increases the value of consistent performance across more races rather than relying on a short burst of results.
point system
"And I think that comes from the difference of running first or running second is, is so big from a point standpoint. And I mean, it totally rewards winning. It's not like the wins."
They’re discussing how NASCAR awards points based on where you finish. The key idea is that winning (and finishing near the front) earns a lot more points than just “getting by,” so the standings can change fast.
They’re talking about NASCAR’s points system and how it heavily rewards race results. In this format, finishing position and especially winning create large point gaps that affect who can realistically contend for the championship.
rewards winning
"And I mean, it totally rewards winning. It's not like the wins. You can just run okay and get away with it."
The speaker argues that the scoring rules strongly favor drivers who win races. That changes how teams approach risk, strategy, and car setup—because “good enough” results may not close the points gap.
contending for wins every week
"And that's where, you know, people are like, oh, you know, this point system is perfect for you and this and that. And I'm like, man, you, you're going to have to be contending for wins every week for the last 10 weeks because being solid and being, you know, being okay is not going to get you where you need to go because of the gap."
This is about championship math: if the points gaps are large, a driver can’t rely on consistent but non-winning finishes. The speaker suggests that, during the final stretch, only frequent front-running and wins keep you in contention.
track position
"You get your car better throughout the day and you get the track position and you set sail."
Track position is basically your spot on the race track compared to other cars. If you’re ahead, you usually have an easier time managing the race and you don’t have to take as many risky moves.
In racing, track position means where your car sits on the circuit relative to other cars. It often matters because being ahead can let you control pace, avoid traffic, and make fewer risky passes.
late model races
"I remember one of my very first late model races that I was running, you know, in South Georgia."
Late model races are a type of stock-car racing that many drivers start with. It’s where you learn how to race well—like managing tires and making smart moves—before going to bigger series.
Late model racing is a grassroots-to-regional stock-car category where drivers often develop racecraft before moving up to higher series. It’s a common path for NASCAR drivers to learn car control, race strategy, and consistency.
get the lead
"...if we get the lead and we haven't been doing our job early to make our car better, the result is not the same."
Getting the lead means being in first place. It’s important because it gives you more control, but you still need the car to be working well to stay there.
Getting the lead is a strategic turning point because it changes your control of pace and track position. The speaker is tying leadership to earlier execution—if the car isn’t improved early, leading doesn’t guarantee the same outcome.
go green
"I was kind of hoping it was going to go, you know, go green. I thought it was going to be really fun."
“Go green” means the race is restarting normally after a caution. Drivers often want it because it turns the race back into full-speed racing.
“Go green” means the race restarts under green-flag conditions after a caution period. Green-flag restarts often reset strategy and tire behavior, so drivers may hope for them to maximize racing time and momentum.
caution comes out early
"If the caution comes out early, it was going to be not great. But the way that it worked out, it turned out to be a great strategy."
A “caution” is when something happens on the track and the race slows down. If it happens early, teams have to rethink when to pit and what tires to use, because the timing can make or break the race strategy.
In NASCAR, a “caution” means the race is slowed due to an incident on track (often with yellow flags). If a caution comes out early, it can drastically change pit timing, tire strategy, and track position—making it a high-impact moment for teams.
last stage going green
"And I mean, the truth of the matter is the odds of the last stage going green Martinville or next to none and everyone knows that."
NASCAR races are split into stages. “Going green” means the race is running normally again instead of slowed down by a caution, and teams have to decide whether to pit based on how likely that is.
NASCAR races are divided into stages, and “going green” means the race resumes under normal racing speed (not under caution). The odds of the last stage going green matter because it affects whether teams gamble on staying out versus pitting for fresh tires.
Pitt Road
"But when I get called to Pitt Road, I'm kind of piecing together, you know, hey, no one else is stopping after I come back out on track."
“Pitt Road” is the pit lane where the car goes to get serviced during the race. If the driver is called there, it usually means it’s time for a pit stop—like changing tires or adding fuel.
“Pitt Road” is the pit lane area where NASCAR teams enter to service the car—typically for tire changes, fuel, and adjustments. When a driver is “called to Pitt Road,” it usually signals a planned or opportunistic pit stop based on race timing and cautions.
fresh tires
"...when you're really struggling and those guys are eating you up on fresh tires, right? [520.7s] And the good news for us..."
Fresh tires are new tires after a pit stop. They usually grip the track better, so the car can feel faster and handle better right away.
“Fresh tires” means newly mounted tires after a pit stop, which temporarily restore grip and improve handling. In NASCAR, cars on fresh tires often gain time—especially late in a stint—so track position and strategy matter a lot.
long run
"[535.1s] So they were going to have to make a pretty long run to, you know, to the end. [538.8s] But I guess to answer your question..."
A “long run” is when you don’t pit for a while. The tires get older, so the car can get slower or harder to handle as time goes on.
A “long run” means staying out longer between pit stops, which increases tire wear and makes the car harder to drive consistently. Teams must balance the time lost in extra wear versus the time gained by delaying a pit stop.
feel behind the wheel
"But regardless, yes, I do think that the feel that you're looking for behind the wheel is a little different in this car than it is in the other one. And, and for me, it's been in a way that I just didn't grow up wanting..."
“Feel behind the wheel” refers to the driver’s subjective perception of how the car responds—turn-in, balance, grip, and how predictable it is. When the car changes, the driver often has to relearn inputs to get the same confidence and performance.
spotter
"So have a ton of, you know, a ton of confidence in them and just feel like it's been a, been [929.7s] a big learning process for me, probably more than it has been. [932.6s] So who delivers the message on the radio? [934.8s] Hey, driver, you're using too much brakes. [937.3s] Is it Alan or does he go through the spotter?"
The spotter is a person on the track who watches where other cars are. They tell the driver what’s around them so the driver can make safer, smarter moves.
In NASCAR, the spotter is a crew member positioned to watch the track from outside the car and communicate with the driver. They help with traffic, positioning, and safety by calling out what’s happening around the car.
minute sensations
"don't drive and understand how minute the sensations are that we're looking for to see that in data."
Drivers can feel tiny changes in how the car is behaving. The team wants to match those feelings with the measurements so they know what’s really going on.
“Minute sensations” refers to subtle feedback the driver feels—like small changes in grip, balance, or how the car responds. The speaker connects those sensations to what the team is trying to validate using data.
squiggly lines
"...a lot of times there's not big stuff to pick up and you kind of start to reach for squiggly lines that might be lying to you."
Sometimes the charts can look messy or confusing, and not every change is important. The point is to avoid overreacting to random-looking data.
“Squiggly lines” is a metaphor for noisy or misleading telemetry trends that can appear in data plots. The speaker is warning that not every wiggle in the numbers is meaningful, and chasing it can lead to mistakes.
engineers
"...crew chiefs and engineers and the guys on the box can see that data real time and, and, and have a really good feel for what's going on."
Engineers are the technical experts on the team. They look at car measurements and help turn that information into advice for the driver.
In NASCAR, engineers analyze telemetry and vehicle behavior to help the crew chief and driver make adjustments. Here, they’re described as being able to see data live and translate it into actionable guidance.
real time
"But, but they, you know, crew chiefs and engineers and the guys on the box can see that data real time and, and, and have a really good feel for what's going on."
Real time means the team can see what’s happening right now, not minutes later. That helps them give timely guidance during the race.
“Real time” means the team is receiving live telemetry and track information while the car is on track. That allows crew chiefs and engineers to react quickly to changing conditions like tire behavior, grip levels, and traffic.
body change
"This is the second time I've gone through a body change that, you know, you see things"
A “body change” means the race car’s exterior package changed. That can make the car feel different on track, so teams have to adjust and learn it.
A “body change” in NASCAR typically means an updated car exterior that changes aerodynamic behavior and can affect handling. Teams often need time to translate those changes into setup adjustments that improve performance.
every type of track
"I don't mean just see where we're at at one track. I want to see where we're at at every type of track that we have to go to."
Different tracks are shaped and gripped differently, so the car can’t be set up the same way everywhere. Teams have to adjust so the car handles well at each track.
“Every type of track” points to how drastically car setup and driving strategy can change with track characteristics like banking, surface, and corner radius. Teams must adapt the car’s setup and balance to match each venue’s demands.
Hendrick Motorsports
"And I do think Hendrick Motorsports as a whole does a really good job of, of intaking that data and being able to process it and come back better."
Hendrick Motorsports is a top NASCAR racing team. Chase is saying their team is good at using what they learn from races to make the car better.
Hendrick Motorsports is one of NASCAR’s most successful teams, known for strong engineering, data analysis, and consistent race-day performance. In this context, Chase credits the organization’s ability to turn data into improvements.
dialed in
"So you guys will, you guys will get it all dialed in. And just it's hard to explain to people how much time and how hard it is to get these cars right."
“Dialed in” means the team has tuned the car so it drives the way the driver wants. That takes testing and lots of small changes.
“Dialed in” is racing shorthand for getting the car’s setup and aerodynamic configuration to match the driver’s preferences and the track’s conditions. It usually involves iterative adjustments based on practice and race data.
hauler
"You're like, you guys can't go in the hauler. I'm like, no, we're going to go in the hauler because I don't want to look at all you people anymore. Yes, I agree."
A “hauler” is the big team truck/motorcoach where the race team hangs out and keeps equipment. They’re saying they went inside it to talk away from everyone.
In NASCAR, a “hauler” is the team’s transport vehicle—typically a large motorcoach or enclosed truck—used to move cars, equipment, and personnel. Going into the hauler usually means retreating from the crowd to talk privately.
Bristol moment
"But that's what Bristol does to you. Like no matter how well you get along with somebody or how much you know somebody at some point, you're going to run into somebody that you know, well, you like. What do you, what do you think your, your Bristol moment was?"
They’re talking about Bristol Motor Speedway. A “Bristol moment” means one of those big, intense situations that can happen when things get heated at a NASCAR race.
“Bristol” here refers to Bristol Motor Speedway, where NASCAR events are known for intense, close-quarters interactions. A “Bristol moment” is basically a memorable, high-stress encounter that happens in that environment.
IROC event
"They're at the IROC event that they, that they had at 10 tents motor club. [1477.1s] And I was talking to you beforehand."
IROC is a race format that brings different kinds of drivers together. The idea is to make the cars more equal so you can judge who’s driving best.
IROC stands for International Race of Champions, a format where drivers from different racing backgrounds compete in identical or near-identical cars. Mentioning an IROC event signals a “driver skill” focus rather than team-specific car advantages.
Tony Stewart
"You know, I got to share the podium with, with him and Tony Stewart, which, you know, Tony was a hero of mine."
Tony Stewart is a famous race car driver. Mentioning him here is basically saying the speaker got to race and celebrate with one of the biggest names in American motorsports.
Tony Stewart is a well-known American racing driver and team owner who has competed across multiple disciplines, including NASCAR. His presence in the conversation highlights the cross-over nature of series like SRX, where drivers from different backgrounds share the spotlight.
podium
"You know, I got to share the podium with, with him and Tony Stewart, which, you know, Tony was a hero of mine."
The podium is where the top finishers stand after the race. If you “share the podium,” it means you finished near the very front—usually in the top three.
Sharing the podium means finishing in the top positions of the race—typically first, second, and third—during the post-race ceremony. In NASCAR and similar series, podium finishes are a major performance milestone and a strong indicator of competitiveness.
Request an Explanation
Heard something you'd like explained? We'll add it to this episode.
Sign in to request explanations for terms you heard.
Want to learn more?
Browse our glossary for plain-English explanations of automotive terms, jargon, and concepts.
Help improve this episode
See something that's not quite right? Our annotations are AI-generated and can sometimes miss the mark. Click the flag icon on any annotation to suggest a correction.