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NASCAR: How each of the five remaining playoff drivers can win their way to Homestead-Miami

By Dustin Smith

AVONDALE, AZ - MARCH 13: A general view of the speedway during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Good Sam 500 at Phoenix International Raceway on March 13, 2016 in Avondale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
AVONDALE, AZ - MARCH 13: A general view of the speedway during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Good Sam 500 at Phoenix International Raceway on March 13, 2016 in Avondale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /
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FORT WORTH, TX – NOVEMBER 04: Chase Elliott, driver of the #24 Hooters Chevrolet (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images for Texas Motor Speedway)
FORT WORTH, TX – NOVEMBER 04: Chase Elliott, driver of the #24 Hooters Chevrolet (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images for Texas Motor Speedway) /

How Chase Elliott makes it to Homestead-Miami

There must be something in the Hendrick Motorsports water. Both Jimmie Johnson and Chase Elliott are in substantial holes heading into Phoenix this weekend. Both drivers are virtually in must-win situations going in as well. If Elliott wins on Sunday, it would snap the Elliott family Phoenix winless streak that has been ongoing since 1989.

However, Elliott would not be in this situation if he hadn’t been wrecked while leading at Martinsville. When Denny Hamlin punted Elliott at Martinsville, it definitely left a sour taste in the young driver’s mouth. This incident is the main cause for Elliott being 49 points behind Keselowski for the final Championship 4 spot. Elliott has come so close to a win this season but has yet to earn the sweet taste of victory.

This weekend at Phoenix, we will see what the young gun is made of. Elliott essentially needs to win to move on and Phoenix just might be the track at which he earns his first win. He had an average day in March, finishing in 12th place, and has only gotten better since then. In order to win on Sunday, he will have to channel his inner 1989 Bill Elliott roots. Bill Elliott, of course, won the Phoenix November race in 1989.

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