Elliott Gains Ground in Championship Hunt at Texas

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In: Xfinity Series News

Chase Elliott, driver of the No. 9 NAPA AUTO PARTS Chevrolet, finished eighth in Saturday’s Texas 300 NASCAR XFINITY Series (NXS) race at Texas Motor Speedway.  It was Elliott’s series leading 25th top-10 finish, which keeps him in sole possession of second in the championship standings as the series heads into its final two races.  Elliott trails points leader Chris Buescher by 24 markers.  Brad Keselowski led six times for 62 laps en route to his 34th career NXS victory.

After a washout cancelled qualifying, Elliott lined up 10th, the position he posted after Friday’s practice.  From the drop of the green flag, Elliott secured his place inside the top-10, but early indications proved his NAPA Chevrolet needed to be loosened up in order for him to make long run gains.  Crew chief Ernie Cope took advantage of the competition caution on lap 25 to change four tires on Elliott’s Camaro, while also adjusting the air pressures in the Goodyear’s to help the 19-year-old fire off better on the ensuing lap-32 restart.  The NAPA KNOW HOW crew did a phenomenal job on pit road, picking up two positions for Elliott as he would restart eighth. 

Just before the second half of the race approached, Elliott started having issues with rear stability.  He was losing rear grip and reported to Cope he needed more drive off, something he felt would be a difference maker late in the going.  Cope once again brought the second year JR Motorsports (JRM) driver onto pit road, while under the caution, for an air pressure adjustment, fuel and four tires.  The NAPA team once again shined as they picked up two more spots for Elliott, totally four positions on the day.  He would restart fifth on lap 79.

Although Elliott would slip back to 10th nearing the close of the race, he would methodically work his way forward when it mattered most.  On final restart of the race, Elliott lined up ninth and was able to work his way around teammate Regan Smith for eighth on the last lap of the race.

JR Motorsports PR

Speedway Digest Staff
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