CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The ten-week NASCAR Cup Sequence Playoffs open this weekend at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway.
Whereas many strategy the Playoffs with the technique of taking issues one week at a time, 2020 Cup Sequence champion Chase Elliott, who’s certainly one of 4 champions chasing one other title this 12 months, says it’s vital to grasp that 10 weeks is a very long time.
“I feel understanding that, you recognize, 10 weeks is a very long time,” stated Elliott. “Like, that’s a whole lot of racing, and it’s nearly sufficient time for somebody to have few weeks, undergo a stretch of not so good weeks after which get good once more. It’s a whole lot of racing, you recognize, over two months.
“So, I feel typically you form of get these questions in regards to the Playoffs, and it’s like, oh, there’s simply the Playoffs, you recognize, like, it’s only one factor, proper? And it’s not. It’s a protracted time period,” Elliott stated. “And, you recognize, a whole lot of lengthy hours working, you recognize within the store, and journey. It’s simply there’s 10 races and so much can occur in 10 weeks.”
Elliott additionally says having been there earlier than is a energy his No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports workforce takes into the Playoffs.
“I feel the expertise that, you recognize, I alluded to a second in the past is a serious energy, as you simply get confronted with totally different conditions all through the ultimate 10,” he stated. “, the challenges for us have been primarily on Saturdays, greater than they’ve been on Sundays. I’ve been fairly open about that, however yeah, we’ve acquired to have higher Saturdays to set ourselves up higher for achievement.”
Elliott is one who believes the depth on and off the monitor picks up when the Playoffs start.
“Yeah, it positively, there’s a stage of depth to the ultimate 10 that I feel make it a whole lot of enjoyable, that’s simply, yeah, it’s a bit totally different vibe, however I get pleasure from it,” he stated. “I feel all of the rivals do. Our season’s fairly lengthy, so form of getting right down to enterprise and understanding that there’s one thing on the road each week, is a enjoyable factor to be part of. And it’s at all times felt that method. , simply naturally because the years have passed by.”
