Exactly one year ago, NAPA AUTO PARTS driver Chase Elliott sat third in the championship standings, just 28 points back from first place. Now one NASCAR XFINITY Series (NXS) championship later, Elliott is once again in third place and 28 points behind the leader. It’s a familiar position for Elliott, as the series heads to Dover International Speedway this weekend.
Last year, Elliott found his rhythm early at Dover by qualifying his NAPA Chevrolet on the outside pole. By the race’s conclusion, Elliott led 18 laps en route to a fifth-place finish. With the finish, Elliott gained six points and further closed the gap on championship leader and JR Motorsports teammate Regan Smith. Elliott continued to cut into the points deficit over the next six weeks of competition. Then by virtue of a win at Chicagoland Speedway, Elliott took full control of the championship standings and never relinquished the lead over the final 16 weeks of competition.
Elliott and his NAPA team hope to find a similar kick start at Dover this year. It’s been a solid track for the native of Dawsonville, Ga. In three NASCAR National Series races at Dover, Elliott has started second each time. In 2013, Elliott finished fifth in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) event. After finishing fifth in his first XFINITY Series start at the Monster Mile, Elliott topped that with a third-place finish in September of 2014 and further buffered his championship points lead with five races to go in the historical season.
This weekend Elliott will look to pace the field as the XFINITY Series race from Dover International Speedway airs at 2:30 p.m. ET on FOX. MRN Radio/Sirius XM NASCAR Ch. 90 will carry the race beginning at 2 p.m. ET.
JR Motorsports PR
