NASCAR: The major streak that could be in jeopardy

If Chase Elliott does not win multiple races before the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series season ends, it would bring an end to a series-long streak.

Hendrick Motorsports’ Chase Elliott has had a tough 2023 NASCAR Cup Series season by most accounts, having missed six races due to a fractured left tibia in March and April and another one in June due to a suspension for an on-track retaliation move against Joe Gibbs Racing’s Denny Hamlin.

For the first time since 2017, Elliott did not win a regular season race, and he was unable to overcome missing more than a quarter of the regular season to qualify for the playoffs on points, despite having a points per race average that ranked top 10 in the series.

Elliott entered the 2023 season having won at least one race in five straight seasons, the fourth longest active streak and third longest among active drivers (Kurt Busch was at nine but has since retired). His streak trailed only the streaks of Richard Childress Racing’s Kyle Busch (18) and Team Penske’s Joey Logano (11).

Both of those drivers have extended their streaks, with Busch’s 19-year mark breaking Richard Petty’s all-time NASCAR Cup Series record.

Just six other drivers entered the 2023 season having won at least one race in both 2021 and 2022. Four of them — Joe Gibbs Racing teammates Denny Hamlin and Christopher Bell and Hendrick Motorsports teammates William Byron and Kyle Larson — have extended their streaks. Hamlin’s streak is now at five, Byron’s is at four, and both Larson’s and Bell’s are at three.

Hendrick Motorsports’ Alex Bowman and 23XI Racing’s Bubba Wallace are both at risk of seeing their streaks end at four and two seasons, respectively.

Just three of the nine drivers who won in 2022 (but not in 2021) have won in 2023 to extend their winning streaks to two seasons, those being 23XI Racing’s Tyler Reddick, Trackhouse Racing Team’s Ross Chastain, and RFK Racing’s Chris Buescher.

While Elliott’s winning streak is not the longest in the series, he is the only driver who entered the 2023 season having won multiple races in each of the last five seasons, since Busch had a one-win season in 2022 and Logano had a one-win season in 2021.

Next up on that list was Hamlin, who entered the year having won multiple races in four straight seasons. With three wins so far this year, he has since extended his streak to five seasons and would own the longest streak of this nature entering 2024 if Elliott’s were to end.

Five races remain on the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series schedule, beginning with this Sunday afternoon’s Bank of America Roval 400 at the Charlotte Motor Speedway Roval. Can Elliott secure his third victory in this event after overcoming adversity to win it in both 2019 and 2020?

FanDuel Sportsbook, which is giving fans a guaranteed $200 just for placing any $5 bet on the race, lists Elliott as the second favorite to win Sunday’s race.

Odds and availability are subject to change, so lock in your $200 now before it’s too late!

The round of 12 finale is set to be broadcast live on NBC beginning at 2:00 p.m. ET. Begin a free trial of FuboTV now and don’t miss any of the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series season’s remaining playoff action, which is all set to air on NBC!