Dale Jr. Betrays Elliott in Dover Snowboard Scandal
Chase Elliott's Performance at Dover: A Missed Opportunity
Chase Elliott had the car, the lead, and the moment at Dover Motor Speedway. However, a strategic pit stop changed the course of the race, allowing Denny Hamlin to capitalize on the decision and secure the win. In a track where clean air and track position are crucial, Alan Gustafson’s call to pit during a late caution period disrupted Elliott’s momentum. Hamlin stayed out on older tires, fending off two overtime restarts to claim victory. Despite leading 238 laps and winning Stage 1, Elliott ended up in sixth place, highlighting the importance of timing in NASCAR.
Dover has been a favorable track for Elliott, with 14 career starts yielding two wins, 10 top-five finishes, and an average finish of 9.5—second-best among active drivers. This year, he secured the pole after rain canceled qualifying, and despite no practice and a fresh tire compound, Elliott showed immediate speed. However, debates over strategy calls and Gustafson’s future at the #9 HMS team have sparked discussions about his performance.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s Take on Elliott’s Performance
On his podcast, The Dale Jr. Download, Dale Earnhardt Jr. shared his thoughts on Elliott’s performance at Dover. While he praised the car’s speed, he criticized the costly pit decision. “Look, it wasn’t the right choice,” he stated, emphasizing that Elliott gave up the lead during a critical moment at a track where staying out front is essential.
Elliott’s leg injury from a snowboarding accident in early 2023 forced him to miss six races, disrupting his momentum. Dale Jr. believes this setback, combined with the challenges of the Next Gen car, has made it difficult for Elliott to regain his rhythm. In 2023, he missed the playoffs for the first time in his career, and since then, he has only won twice.
Challenges Faced by the No. 9 Team
The No. 9 team has struggled to set up the car according to Elliott’s preferences. Although he consistently pushes to win, something still feels off. It seems like he hasn’t fully clicked with the car yet. “He wins that championship early and wants to contend every single year… but they’ve had a hard time getting the car to where he wants it or feels comfortable driving it,” Dale Jr. said.
Despite these challenges, Dale Jr. encouraged the team to maintain confidence and carry their momentum into the next race at Indy. “Let’s think about how great this car was and how awesome we ran all day long. Don’t carry that forward, carry that thought process forward into the Indy, go win Indy.”
Consistency and Momentum
Elliott hasn’t finished inside the top 20 in 2025 so far, but with four top-5 finishes in the last six starts, the team has shown signs of momentum. His sixth-place finish at Dover marked his ninth result of sixth or better in the season. While it wasn’t a win, it was another solid step forward.
Elliott scored 48 points at Dover, third-most behind Denny Hamlin (57) and Alex Bowman (49). With that, he took over the regular-season points lead at 702, backed by 12 top-10 finishes and zero DNFs. His 238 laps led were the most he’s logged in a single race since his 289-lap performance at Martinsville in October 2021.
At Dover, he started from pole, led nearly 60% of the race, and looked poised to take control. However, a late pit stop shuffled him out of contention. Crew chief Alan Gustafson’s call drew scrutiny, and Elliott’s post-race reaction hinted at frustration: “Had a nice recovery to get back to the lead… didn’t want to see that caution. I was hoping I was settling in for the last run of the day, but it’s part of it. It can change really fast.”
Despite the setback, Elliott’s strong run shows he’s gaining momentum. The extra 15 playoff points from winning the regular season title will allow him to mount a championship charge.