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NASCAR: How Does Daytona Finish Impact Elliott’s 2016?

By Joseph Shelton

Feb 21, 2016; Daytona Beach, FL, USA; The car of NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Chase Elliott (not pictured) is towed into the garage after a wreck during the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Peter Casey-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 21, 2016; Daytona Beach, FL, USA; The car of NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Chase Elliott (not pictured) is towed into the garage after a wreck during the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Peter Casey-USA TODAY Sports /
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The run of bad luck that normally befalls NASCAR Daytona 500 pole-winning rookies continued Sunday when Chase Elliott was the first crash of the day. How will this impact his 2016 hopes?

As predicted last week, Chase Elliott winning the Daytona 500 pole didn’t help his chances for success during the race. His 500 got off to a great start, with teammate and 500 favorite Dale Earnhardt Jr. pushing Elliott’s No. 24 to lead the first two laps. After being passed on lap three, Elliott managed to keep his car lingering in the upper half of the top-10, that is until he managed to get loose and crash 20 laps into the race while coming off of turn four. The resulting spin sent him digging into the tri-oval dirt.

Only one word can sum up what had happened: “Oof.”

It was both painful and embarrassing to see such a thing happening to Elliott in his first Daytona 500. Here he is, the youngest ever Daytona 500 pole winner, a rookie taking over the seat of a legend, and on top of that being a son of a another NASCAR legend and fan favorite as well as the first rookie Xfinity Series champion, a feat accomplished in 2014. So yes, the hype train was long and loud. Elliott had a ton of pressure on his shoulders to perform, and like that it was taken away in the slightest wiggle.

It’s rough to see, and there’s no doubt he probably wanted to hide in his motorcoach, at least initially. But instead, his No. 24 crew got the car fixed as best as they could, and in the end Elliott finished 37th, 40 laps down. A dismal end to what had started as a promising day.

But as to whether or not this will define his 2016 season, that’s another story. Nothing has really changed, save morale. He’s still one of the most natural NASCAR talents out there. He’s paired with one of NASCAR’s most successful organizations with the best that money could by and the best teammates he could ask for at that. So should this crash have any effect on the way his season goes? Fat chance.

Keep in mind, he pulled off an amazing win just the day before, barely out-dueling Joey Logano to win the Xfinity season opener at Daytona as well. He knows how to get around these tracks. He knows what he needs to do to turn such misfortune around. Plus, he’s mature for being a 20-year-old kid. He knows that his predecessor, Jeff Gordon, stunk up the show often in his long ago rookie season of 1993. He knows that he’ll have his fair share of rookie mistakes. Surely someone has to have told him that it comes with the territory of being in the Sprint Cup series.

More racing: NASCAR: Winners And Losers From Daytona

So although the embarrassment of being the first casualty of the 2016 season is undoubtedly huge, it’ll have no effect on his rookie campaign. He’ll get it turned around and have plenty of stout showings. He has the same equipment Gordon had, the same materials, even the same Crew Chief in Alan Gustafson. He’ll be in Atlanta with a clear head, and he’ll continue to impress us as the weeks go by. It’ll be a good year for Elliott as long as he doesn’t let those pesky rookie problems conquer him.

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