AVONDALE, ARIZONA – MARCH 08: Chase Elliott, driver of the #9 UniFirst Chevrolet, leads a pack of cars during the NASCAR Cup Series FanShield 500 at Phoenix Raceway on March 08, 2020, in Avondale, Arizona. Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images
Chase Elliott is once again the victim of Murphy’s Law at Phoenix Raceway
In Friday’s time trials, Elliott won the pole for Sunday’s FanShield 500, marking the eighth straight top-ten start at Phoenix for the driver of the No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet.
Finishing races at the one-mile track, however, has been a problem for Elliott, and that proved true once again in the fourth NASCAR Cup Series event of the 2020 season. Elliott led the first 60 laps and finished second to Kevin Harvick in Stage 1.
Penalties and ‘The Bounty’ top this week’s Hot Topics featuring the negative and positive side of NASCAR.
First up are the recent penalties occurring so early in the 2020 season. Then, on a lighter and more positive side is ‘The Bounty’ Kevin Harvick is offering and Marcus Lemonis is making better.
Take some time to read my take on both Hot Topics. Then, share your thoughts in the comment section below.
AVONDALE, ARIZONA – NOVEMBER 10: The car of Chase Elliott, driver of the #9 NAPA Autocare Center Chevrolet, is towed into the garage after he wrecked during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Bluegreen Vacations 500 at ISM Raceway on November 10, 2019, in Avondale, Arizona. Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images
Chase Elliott had to win Sunday’s Bluegreen Vacations 500 at ISM Raceway to advance to the Nov. 17 Championship 4 race at Homestead-Miami Speedway, and for the first two stages of the event, it appeared Elliott might have the car to get the job done.
The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series returned to Texas Motor Speedway, the middle point in the round of eight. After a dramatic race at Martinsville last week, many drivers were looking to improve their position and set themselves up for a chance at the championship in Homestead-Miami.
FORT WORTH, TEXAS – NOVEMBER 03: Chase Elliott, driver of the #9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet, pits following an on-track incident during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series AAA Texas 500 at Texas Motor Speedway on November 03, 2019 in Fort Worth, Texas. Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images
FORT WORTH, Tex. – After another disaster on the race track, Chase Elliott has a crystal clear vision of his only path to a Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series championship.
On lap nine of Sunday’s AAA Texas 500 at Texas Motor Speedway, Elliott’s No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet broke loose as he was running a higher lane in turns one and two. The car slammed into the outside wall, severely damaging the rear of the Camaro.
Elliott’s crew made repairs, beating the time limit under NASCAR’s damaged vehicle policy by roughly ten seconds. Elliott completed 312-of-334 laps and finished 32nd, a result that left him 78 points below the current cut line for the Championship 4 Round of the Playoffs.
In other words, Elliott must win next Sunday at ISM Raceway at Phoenix if he wants to race for the series title at Homestead-Miami Speedway. There is no other option.
“I made a mistake, got loose and crashed,” Elliott said. “I really hate that happened. Obviously, it’s not good and not what you’re looking for. It’s just my mistake and there’s really no excuse for it. It’s just all eyes on Phoenix.
“Obviously, today was very self-inflicted. I made a mistake that there’s really no excuse for, and that’s what you get. You make mistakes, you put yourself in a bad position, and that was all on me today. I hate that it happened, but it did, and we’ll just go on to Phoenix and try to get a win out there.”
