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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – OCTOBER 12: Chase Elliott, driver of the #9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet, stands during the national anthem prior to the NASCAR Cup Series South Point 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on October 12, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Logan Riely\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n
Chase Elliott\u2019s NASCAR playoff run hit a major setback at Talladega Superspeedway<\/a>. The Hendrick Motorsports driver<\/a> was caught in a Lap 52 multi-car crash during Sunday\u2019s YellaWood 500. The wreck ended his day early and dropped him to 10th in the playoff standings.<\/p>\n Chase Elliott had been running smoothly and steadily before chaos struck. In one moment, the race flipped from calm to catastrophe. The crash now leaves him needing a win at Martinsville Speedway to stay in the championship hunt.<\/p>\n The Crash That Changed Everything<\/p>\n After stepping out of his damaged No. 9 Chevrolet, Chase Elliott described the sequence that ended his race.<\/p>\n \u201cI saw someone get turned sideways kind of like normal, you know,\u201d he said<\/a>. \u201cJust hoping to slow down in time, and\u00a0 I haven\u2019t seen it back but got turned sideways there somehow, some way.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, some more stuff after that,\u201d Chase Elliott added quietly.<\/p>\n Before the wreck, Chase Elliott said his car was performing well.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was fine,\u201d Chase Elliott explained. \u201cThe sequence went, we got ourselves in a pretty good spot with the way the sequence was, and we just did not execute that well. \u201cI feel like, as a group, but ultimately put ourselves back at the back of the pack, unfortunately.\u201d<\/p>\n That positioning turned out to be costly once the aggression ramped up in the draft-heavy pack.<\/p>\n Chase Elliott going to the garage with damage from that crash. He will head to Martinsville likely in a must-win situation, although it also depends how many other playoff cars have trouble.<\/p>\n Elliott last week said of Talladega in this round: \u201cIt is an interesting place to place\u2026<\/p>\n \u2014 Jeff Gluck (@jeff_gluck) October 19, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n NASCAR Playoff Pressure Mounts<\/p>\n Asked if he expected the field to get that intense so early, Chase Elliott nodded. \u201cDid you anticipate that the cadence would be so aggressive?\u201d a reporter asked<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, stage points are crucial right now, yeah,\u201d Elliott said. \u201cWasn\u2019t super surprised everybody started to get really aggressive. Unfortunately, they didn\u2019t take it through.\u201d<\/p>\n Kyle Larson had reported earlier that \u201che felt the 5 was a bit on the slow side,\u201d but Elliott brushed that off as unrelated. The problem, he said, wasn\u2019t speed; it was circumstance. \u201cYou know, I don\u2019t know what you do about those situations, right?\u201d Elliott said.<\/p>\n \u201cLike, we weren\u2019t back there doing anything wild or crazy. Just, you know, they get turned sideways and slide into the wreck. You know, so I don\u2019t know. Kind of thinking back through and wish I could have done something different, but I don\u2019t really know what I would have done. I was just trying to get slowed up,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n Chase Elliott Looking Ahead to Martinsville<\/p>\n The crash left Chase Elliott sitting 8th in the NASCAR playoffs standings, according to NASCAR.com<\/a>. Martinsville now becomes his last chance. \u201cNothing changed. Nothing changes, it\u2019s all about winning for you, right?\u201d a reporter asked<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cAbsolutely. Yeah, I\u2019m excited about it,\u201d Chase Elliott replied. \u201cI mean, you know, it doesn\u2019t, unless we won today, we were likely going to be in a race week. So I hate it.\u201d<\/p>\n Still, Chase Elliott\u2019s focus hasn\u2019t wavered. \u201cYeah, looking forward to Martinsville Speedway though,\u201d he said. \u201cGot one more shot at it.\u201d<\/p>\n Chase Elliott\u2019s Talladega Superspeedway heartbreak sets up high drama ahead. The NASCAR Playoff just got a lot more interesting.<\/p>\n \n\t\t\tDogli Wilberforce<\/a> is a sports writer who covers NASCAR, Formula 1 and IndyCar Series for Heavy Sports. With bylines at Total Apex Sports and Last Word on Sports, Wilberforce has built a reputation for delivering timely, engaging coverage that blends sharp analysis with accessible storytelling. Wilberforce has covered everything from major football transfers to fight-night drama, bringing readers the insight and context behind the headlines. More about Dogli Wilberforce<\/a>\t\t<\/p>\n \n\t\t\tMore Heavy on NASCAR\n\t\t<\/p>\n \n\t\t\t\tLoading more stories\n\t\t<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t