Chase Elliott, Ross Chastain penalized after failing inspection twice at Richmond

As the NASCAR Cup Series gets ready for practice and qualifying, Chase Elliott and Ross Chastain have failed inspection twice. That means both teams are going to lose their car chiefs and pit stall selection. That’s not going to get them off on the right foot this weekend.

Chase Elliott will be without Matt Barndt now on his team. Meanwhile, Chastain will be without David Fero. Both teams were able to pass inspection on the third try, but the damage was already done as far as these penalties are concerned.

With Richmond being a short track, pit selection might be important. Now, these drivers will have to deal with whatever stall they get when it is all said and done.

The deal for Chase Elliott just gets harder. You want everyone on your team the entire weekend and you definitely don’t want to lose your pit selection. Now, what was already going to be difficult gets even more so as Elliott searches for a win.

If Elliott wants to make the postseason, he really needs to get a checkered flag. Points are not going to cut it at this point. That means he will have to overcome this setback and hope that his car and pit crew have the speed to get him through this Cook Out 400.

This doesn’t hurt as much for Chastain who is already in the playoffs. However, this is a track he feels he can win at, and it doesn’t help to get this penalty. Both Chastain and Elliott are on our drivers with questions to answer list this weekend.

Chase Elliott has to do it sooner rather than later

Going back to the Chicago Street Course, Chase Elliott has really not been a factor in these Cup Series races. He finished P3 at Chicago but that was after a field flip and some keen strategy on his team’s part. Since then, it was been three weeks of struggle.

While Elliott fought his way to a P10 finish at Pocono, he was once again not a factor in the race. As far as competing for the win and having speed, it has not been there. One has to wonder if it is a car issue, team issue, or driver issue at this point.

Confidence is key for NASCAR drivers. I’m sure that Elliott’s confidence has taken a hit, even if he doesn’t say it. Something has to change and failing inspection twice is the last thing this team needed.

Chase Elliott will have his chance at a win this weekend. However, it feels like wish casting more than anything, when you talk about his chances at getting a win.

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