I think the chart perfectly illustrates what I'm saying. If the top five number plays out, it would be a career worst. The top ten number would be the lowest full season number since 2019. TWO laps led through six races? And worse yet I think those were just during pit cycles. You have two options. Either the 9 team is underachieving, or the 9 team just isn't near as good as some of us thought they were.
What's the old Bill Parcells line? "You are what your record says you are." For those of us who have invested a decade in following Chase's career, it would indeed be a very disheartening thing to have to acknowledge.
The 9 team has been underperforming since about August of 2022. How long do you have to wait before acknowledging there is an issue?
That depends on how one defines 'underperforming'.
I know man....just screwing around, but I think the big issue is whether or not he needs a change from Gustaphson. Chase is a good driver. However, his legend is much, much bigger than his talent--How could it not be? Do you dump the CC to at least shake things up?
I think finding a CC that perhaps has a better handle on the car could help but Gustafson is in no way a dummy. The guy has a ton of wins and has been in the biz a long time thru multiple generations of car and has always been competitive. I personally think he gets too much flack, but if this car doesn't jive with how Elliott likes to drive like he has said, maybe there is someone out there that can find the magic setups to help him. It's a crap shoot finding that guy tho.
I struggle with that because I have always been a big Gustafson supporter and I think he has in the past had to take too much crap he didn't deserve, but at some point you have to wonder if they have reached the limit of how far they can go together.
The secret of being a great coach is knowing how to motivate each individual personality in your "locker room". Maybe Jeff's little shot across the bow will bear fruit.