In a rookie season full of firsts, Chase Elliott finally gets a weekend of familiarity.
The NASCAR Nationwide Series will make its first and only stop of the season at Atlanta Motor Speedway with the running of the Great Clips 300 Saturday night. Elliott is from Dawsonville, Ga., just 80 miles north of the speedway. His sponsor, NAPA AUTO PARTS, is headquartered just 40 miles away in Atlanta. Together, it’s a homecoming for just about everyone involved with the No. 9 NAPA Racing team, which enters the weekend as the series points leader. Elliott will spend the week leading up to the race enjoying the company of friends and family.
The Elliott name is synonymous with Atlanta Motor Speedway, as Chase’s dad, Bill, scored five of his 44 career victories at that track. But interestingly enough, Chase has never raced there. His only experience in a car at Atlanta was this past July when he gave pace car rides to Great Clips customers. So like he’s done at many other tracks this year, Elliott’s visit to Atlanta Motor Speedway will be his first as a competitor. That said, he’s performed well on 1.5-mile speedways. Two of his three wins this year have come on 1.5-mile layouts similar to Atlanta – Texas Motor Speedway and Chicagoland Speedway – and both were his first visits.
With 10 races to go, Elliott has a 13-point advantage over teammate Regan Smith in the driver standings. Elliott also leads Ty Dillon by 50 points in the Sunoco Rookie of the Year standings.
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