For the second time this season, NAPA AUTO PARTS driver Chase Elliott will be making his way to the Bluegrass State when the NASCAR Nationwide Series returns to Kentucky Speedway. The 1.5-mile tri-oval is nestled in Sparta, Ky., about 40 miles southwest of Cincinnati.
Elliott enters Saturday night’s race with an 18-point lead over his JR Motorsports teammate Regan Smith through the season’s first 26 races. The 18-year-old rookie has held the series’ points lead for 13 of 26 races thus far. He and his No. 9 NAPA team are hitting their stride when it matters most, riding the momentum of seven consecutive top-10 finishes. Over that stretch, Elliott has a series-best 5.4 average finish.
Of the seven remaining Nationwide Series races this season, five of them are at 1.5-mile venues (Kentucky, Kansas, Charlotte, Texas and Homestead). Two of Elliott’s three wins (Texas and Chicagoland) have come on 1.5-mile tracks.
In the battle for Sunoco Rookie of the Year honors, Elliott continues to lead Ty Dillon by 56 points.
JR Motorsports PR
- IROC Returns July 19-20 at Lime Rock Park - April 19, 2024
- RCR Race Preview: Talladega Superspeedway - April 19, 2024
- The perfect sweep: Julien Rehberg makes an incredible debut in the Rookie Trophy - April 19, 2024