NASCAR insider reassures Chase Elliott fans about his playoff chances despite a winless season

NASCAR insider Jeff Gluck recently commented on Chase Elliott's chances of making the playoffs this season despite his winless record. The 2020 Cup champion hasn't been to victory lane for over a year, with his last win coming at Texas in April 2024.

But despite his win drought, Gluck claimed on The Teardown podcast that Elliott is a shoo-in for qualifying for the playoffs.

"Three guys that have three wins a piece, then there's six drivers that have one win each, so there's seven spots right now available for the playoffs on points, and obviously, you look at Chase Elliot is plus 142, Reddick is plus 138, they're going to make it. I mean, even with a massive meltdown of horrible proportions and terrible luck, they're still going to make it," Gluck said. [44:00].

Gluck further noted that Chase Elliott has not finished outside the top 20 on even a single occasion this season. Elliott's finishes have been 20th or better, including three top-fives and four top-10s.

Gluck claimed Hendrick Motorsports was in 'a decent shape' at Michigan. But the fuel mileage gamble and an ill-fated caution 'ruined' their strategy.

Chase Elliott and Alex Bowman having polar opposite seasons despite both being winless

Following his comments on Chase Elliott, the podcast's co-host turned his attention towards Alex Bowman. Jeff Gluck spoke about the season the #48 Hendrick Motorsports driver is having, which, compared to his other three teammates, is nothing short of underwhelming and riddled with bad luck.

"Alex Bowman, oh man Bowman's bad stretch here has got him to only plus 13 very uncomfortable for him by the way I see a lot of like well Bowman doesn't belong in the car that wasn't even his fault today he got completely cleaned out turned head first into the wall," Gluck said [46:00].

Gluck's co-host, Jordan Bianchi, added that Bowman's season has gone 'in a bad direction' and is currently spiraling with one bad finish after the other. He mentioned how Bowman nearly won at Homestead and finished fifth at Kansas without having a shot to win.

But since his top-five finish at Kansas, things have gone from bad to worse for Bowman. While Elliott may not have had a win this year, he has been racking up points for his playoff push.

Bowman, meanwhile, has scored just one top five and one top 10 since his second-place finish at Homestead. Apart from them, he's had seven finishes outside the top 20 from Homestead onwards.

Jordan Bianchi mentioned that Alex Bowman has gone from third to 13th in points in just nine races.