Alan Gustafson Labeled ‘Culprit’ as Chase Elliott Suffers Huge Playoffs Setback

Chase Elliott’s night at Darlington began as a calculated push through the field, but it wasn’t without drama. Early on lap 41, Elliott joined Brad Keselowski in making pit stops as part of the green flag strategy. Just 84 laps later, on lap 125, the No. 9 found itself in close quarters racing with Carson Hocevar for 14th, making contact but escaping without major damage. The incident didn’t slow him down significantly, and Elliott kept his focus on staying in the hunt.

Midway through the race, strategy put Elliott briefly in the spotlight. When Chase Briscoe and several leaders pitted on lap 188, Elliott cycled to the front, taking the lead for a short stint before giving it back on lap 195 when he made his own stop. From there, he maintained a solid pace, working to position himself for the final push as green flag cycles played out and track positions reshuffled.

In the closing stages, Chase Elliott and Christopher Bell were found to be the lapped cars of the playoff opener. On lap 314, he received the free pass under caution, regaining a lap and keeping his top 10 hopes alive. However, the fans were not happy with his strategy and are ready to point fingers at his crew chief, Alan Gustafson.

Would not have thought Chase Elliott and Christopher Bell would be lapped cars in the final laps of the playoff opener. Woof.

— Jeff Gluck (@jeff_gluck) September 1, 2025

Fans didn’t hold back in expressing their frustration midway. One bluntly declared, “Chase won’t make the last round.” Another added, “Gustafson has cost 9 team like 30 total positions tonight lol.” Criticism of the crew chief was a recurring theme, with comments like, “Chase is there because his crew chief is terrible and his pit crew is awful,” and “Hopefully this is the breaking point where NASCAR media can stop gaslighting Chase fans that watch every week that Alan Gustafson is good.”

Even comparisons to other struggling drivers emerged, with one fan noting, “At least Bell can’t blame damage. Chase on the other hand…” It is clear that while Elliott remains one of the most popular drivers, and even amid the run-in with Carson Hocevar earlier in the race, patience among his supporters is wearing thin when it comes to his crew chief.

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