By
NAPA
Chase Elliott qualified fifth for Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Circuit of The Americas.
Elliott had a tough-handling No. 9
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After a lengthy pit stop for adjustments during the stage break, Elliott was deep in the field to start stage two but made up a little ground. The team ended up flipping the stage and took the green-and-white checkered flag in 28th.
In the final stage, Elliott gained track position following a quick call to visit pit road just prior to a caution slowing the race. With several teams pitting under the yellow flag, the 30-year-old driver restarted 12th with just 17 laps to go. Elliott drove to a seventh-place finish.
Elliott leaves COTA third in the Cup Series points standings, 72 markers behind the leader.
The NASCAR Cup Series visited Circuit of The Americas over the weekend. Chase Elliott took to the track on Saturday morning in the No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet for practice and qualifying, ultimately earning a fifth-place starting position for Sunday’s race. Elliott held strong in the top 10 in the opening laps of the race before slipping to 12th on lap 11. Some teams opted to visit pit road in the closing laps of the opening stage, while Elliott and the No. 9 team chose to remain on the track, earning an eighth-place finish and three valuable stage points in the first segment.
Under the stage-ending caution, Elliott reported that he “couldn’t keep the rears on it.” The team, led by veteran crew chief Alan Gustafson, opted to make a lengthy pit stop for necessary adjustments to the No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet to improve handling. Elliott took the green flag for the second stage deep in the field. He advanced to 27th in the stage before some teams began making green-flag pit stops. Elliott reported that the No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet’s handling was better, but he needed more. This time, the team opted to visit pit road for four tires, fuel and an air pressure adjustment just prior to the end of the stage. Elliott returned to the track, finishing the stage in 28th on lap 45.
Staying out during the stage break, he lined up 19th to start the final stage on lap 51. He improved to 16th early before dropping just outside of the top 20. Gustafson called Elliott to pit road on lap 63 for four fresh tires and fuel. The 30-year-old driver returned to the track in 28th and advanced to 15th by lap 72 as a long cycle of green-flag pit stops continued. On lap 74, Elliott noticed that a competitor had lost a wheel on the track and made the quick call to come down pit road before officials waved the caution flag. The team was at the ready with four tires and fuel. The strategy call helped Elliott with track position after several teams visited pit road once it opened. He lined up 12th for the restart with just 17 laps to go. Elliott made quick work of the cars ahead of him, reaching the sixth position within one lap. He dropped to ninth with 10 laps to go, but as the race wound down, he was able to reel in a couple cars ahead of him. Elliott improved to eighth with five circuits to go and made a last-lap pass to ultimately finish seventh.
Elliott remains third in the Cup Series points standings, 72 markers behind the leader.
Start / Finish: 5 / 7
Points Standing / Total: 3rd / 114 pts. (-72)
Next Race: Sunday, March 8, Phoenix Raceway
How to Watch or Listen: 3:30 p.m. ET on FS1, SiriusXM or MRN
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