Chase Elliott had started the 2024 season with a chip on his shoulder. For the first time since 2018 he had gone winless and for the first time in his career he had missed the Playoffs in 2023.

Since Daytona, Chase had become the picture of consistency in the Cup Series. You have to go back to Las Vegas at the end of the 2023 season to find the last time he finished outside the top-20. Elliott’s 19 race top 20 streak was the first time a Cup Series driver had accomplished that in over 3 decades. But late race contact with Daniel Suarez of TrackHouse Racing while battling for 11th position would send Elliott out of the groove and spinning into the final turn. The spin would end any chance at a good finish for Elliott and relegated him back to 21st. One spot out from that top 20 finish.

Elliott would go on to bang into the 99 of Suarez on the cooldown lap before proceeding to brake check him. This incident was overshadowed by Bubba Wallace’s contact on the winner, Alex Bowman, on the cooldown lap following their earlier contact.

Image sourced via Hendrick Motorsports Facebook.