Three races into the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season, and Chase Elliott’s No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts team has already faced more than its fair share of adversity. Three unpredictable incidents, completely out of their control, could have derailed their momentum. Lesser teams might have crumbled under the pressure, but not this one.

Instead, they’ve showcased the resolve of true champions—fighting through setbacks and proving their mettle in the face of chaos. Despite the rocky start, Elliott sits in a tie for fourth place in the standings, right alongside two-time 2025 winner Christopher Bell.

This kind of resilience is exactly what defines championship-caliber teams. The ability to minimize losses on bad days and capitalize on every opportunity is what separates great teams from the rest. For Elliott, who has already experienced the thrill of a 2020 NASCAR Cup Series championship, this season is shaping up to be another chance to prove he belongs among the sport’s elite.

A Clash Victory & a Grueling Start to the Season

Elliott began the year on a high note, winning the Clash, NASCAR’s preseason exhibition event. The win at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum gave his team confidence heading into the regular season. But from that point forward, it’s been anything but smooth sailing.

Crew chief Alan Gustafson summed it up best:
“If you’d told me the circumstances, not the finishes, of the first three races, I’d have thought we’d be sitting in 35th place. And we easily could be. But I’m proud of this team’s resilience, their focus on continuous improvement, and their ability to control what they can.”

Daytona & Atlanta: Surviving the Chaos

The season opened with back-to-back drafting tracks at Daytona International Speedway and Atlanta Motor Speedway, both notorious for unpredictable wrecks. Elliott had strong showings in both, running up front before getting caught in crashes not of his own making.

At Daytona, he led two laps, finished third in Stage 2, but was taken out in a Stage 3 wreck. The race was a frustrating start for a driver who had never won the Daytona 500 despite multiple strong runs.

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Atlanta was another test of endurance—he ran fifth in Stage 1, stayed near the front, but got squeezed into the wall in Stage 2, setting the team back. The damage wasn’t enough to end his race, but it significantly hurt the handling of his Chevrolet Camaro.

Each time, the No. 9 team clawed their way back, minimizing damage in the standings. Elliott finished 15th at Daytona and 13th at Atlanta—not ideal results, but far better than what could have been.

COTA Mayhem: A Test of True Grit

Last weekend at Circuit of the Americas (COTA), the real test of resilience arrived. On the very first turn of the race, Elliott was hit and spun, damaging the car’s toe link. From that moment, it was an uphill battle—repairs, an altered strategy, and the need for a perfect comeback.

The frustration was palpable. Gustafson knew his team would be angry—rightfully so.
“My expectations are that everyone is going to be mad and frustrated, because if you’re passionate, you feel like you were wronged. But you have to channel that energy into a solution. That’s what we did.”

With the No. 9 car wounded but not defeated, the team quickly assessed the damage and got to work.

Strategic Genius: Turning Disaster into Opportunity

One advantage of road course racing? Extra time for repairs. Under Gustafson’s direction, the team meticulously worked on the car, restoring about 80% of its original performance.

“After Saturday’s qualifying, I was confident we had a car that could win. After the damage, we needed some luck, but we got it,” Gustafson admitted.

A few well-timed cautions helped their cause. With other teams opting for short pit strategies, Elliott stayed out, securing six crucial stage points by finishing fifth in Stage 1.

When the final stage arrived, Elliott was back in attack mode, methodically picking off competitors one by one. However, starting from the back again due to stage strategy meant his climb was limited—until one final caution changed everything.

Masterstroke: The Pit Call That Saved the Day

With 18 laps to go, a late caution gave the team one last shot. Gustafson made the game-changing call—bringing Elliott in for fresh tires while many leaders stayed out. It was a bold, aggressive move.

And it paid off.

Elliott—one of the best road racers in NASCAR—went on a surgical charge through the field, clawing his way to fourth place on the final lap. When the checked flag waved, he had turned a near-catastrophe into a top-five finish.

The Championship Formula: Resilience & Smart Racing

Winning NASCAR championships isn’t just about dominating races—it’s about maximizing every opportunity, even on bad days. Elliott and Gustafson, the longest-tenured driver-crew chief duo in the Cup Series, know this well. They already have one title (2020) under their belt, and they’re proving they have what it takes to fight for another.

“Perspective is everything,” Gustafson said with a grin.
“After the way this season started, we’re going to appreciate a straight-forward race day whenever it finally comes.”

If the No. 9 team is this dangerous in adversity, imagine what they can do when things go right.

Against all odds, Chase Elliott & the No. 9 team are proving why they’re championship contenders. If this is them struggling, just wait until they hit their stride.

Final Thoughts: The Road Ahead

The 2025 NASCAR Cup Series is still young, but one thing is clear—Chase Elliott and the No. 9 team are here to fight. Their ability to turn chaos into opportunity is what separates good teams from championship teams.

With the first-ever NASCAR Cup Series race in Mexico City coming up on June 15, Elliott is already making waves off the track, participating in promotional events for the sport’s expansion.

Now, with a few weeks to reset, expect the No. 9 Chevrolet to come back even stronger—ready to take on the field, turn setbacks into comebacks, and make another run at NASCAR glory.