CONCORD, N.C. – Last Sunday was certainly a milestone one for Chase Elliott and Hendrick Motorsports.
Not only did Elliott earn his first career NASCAR Cup Series win, but he also secured Hendrick Motorsports’ 250th Cup win in the process.
And, perhaps most importantly for 2018, he locked up his position in the postseason.
With the win, Elliott jumped from 14th all the way up to fifth in the playoff standings. He has accumulated eight playoff points this season thanks to his three stage wins over the past three races in addition to his race win.
Elliott’s crew chief is glad to have the security of knowing the No. 9 team has clinched a playoff berth.
“You never know until you're in, right?” Alan Gustafson said. “So, it's good to get in.”
Currently, two of Elliott’s teammates are also in position to make the postseason. Jimmie Johnson is currently ranked 15th, with Alex Bowman 40 points behind him in 16th.
Just four regular-season races remain until the 16-driver playoff field will be set, and Bowman currently has a 62-point buffer ahead of the 17th-place competitor.
After earning back-to-back top-10 finishes, William Byron is 21st in the playoff standings, 96 points behind his teammate in 16th.
Hendrick Motorsports’ three teammates currently in playoff position ties the organization for the second-most among all NASCAR Cup Series teams.
Over the past three races, Hendrick Motorsports has improved its average finish to 10.5 versus 17.42 from the prior six races. In the three-race span, it has amassed one win, three top-five finishes, seven top-10s and 100 laps led.
This weekend, all four teammates will look to continue amassing points with the playoffs quickly approaching as the organization heads to a track where it has won eight times – Michigan International Speedway.