Hendrick team in unusual position

Hendrick Motorsports finds itself in unfamiliar territory with the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series schedule winding down — chaser instead of front-runner.

The two Hendrick drivers remaining in the Cup playoffs, Jimmie Johnson and Chase Elliott, are on the wrong side of the final cutline with only one final four spot up for grabs.

Elliott, driver of the No. 24 Chevrolet, is 2-for-2 in making the playoffs but is ranked seventh of eight drivers heading into Sunday’s elimination race at Phoenix Raceway. He didn’t make it past the second round in 2016.

Johnson, the seven-time and reigning series champion, could miss out on his opportunity for a record eighth title if he can’t pilot his No. 48 Chevrolet to victory lane in the Can-Am 500.

Kyle Busch (winner at Martinsville) and Kevin Harvick Texas winner) automatically earned championship slots. They will be joined by Martin Truex Jr., who clinched the third final four berth on points, leaving one spot remaining.

Elliott, the son of 1988 Cup series champ Bill Elliott, won the Xfinity Series championship in 2014 and was the 2016 Cup rookie of the year but has yet to win a race in NASCAR’s premier series.

“Just like any other weekend, you want to go out and try to win the race,” Elliott said. “We are heading into Phoenix to get the victory. If we can do that, we will punch our ticket.”

It’ll be tough to beat Johnson with that final playoff slot on the line.

“His track record speaks for itself, and he’s had a ton of success in championship battles and at Phoenix,” Elliott said. “He’s so dialed in when it comes to getting the job done on the racetrack, and that’s important every weekend, not just at Phoenix.”

While he’s in a fight for playoff survival, Elliott said his team’s approach isn’t changing. “We both know what our challenges are heading into Phoenix,” Elliott said. “Hopefully one of us can do it. We have to win. We both know that plain as day.”