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| Chase Elliott has had some good runs at Phoenix. |
“It’s kind of weird because I never really ran good there in the Xfinity Series and ever since I came over to the Cup side, we have had some good runs. Not every time, but most of the time we have had some decent runs there, which has been nice. I really don’t know why. I never really felt like that track suited me very well, but Jeff (Gordon) won some races with (No. 9 team crew chief) Alan (Gustafson) there and I would have to assume that is probably why. I think he has got a good handle on the racetrack more than it is me.”
Elliott on moving the finish line at ISM Raceway:
“The same people ran well there as they always have, so I don’t necessarily think the start-finish thing changed a whole lot. I think the big beneficiaries like I said last year with that whole situation were the fans. The way the sun sets out there, the fans weren’t baking in the sun. Had no effect on us and the same guys that were fast, were still fast and that will continue to be the case. As long as the fans have a better place to sit and watch, I think that is a win.”
ELLIOTT AT ISM RACEWAY: This weekend at ISM Raceway, Chase Elliott will make his seventh NASCAR Cup Series start at the one-mile oval. In his previous six starts, the driver of the No. 9 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 has led a total of 156 laps – 140 laps combined in 2017 and 16 laps in Nov. 2018. Elliott has finished top three in two of his last three starts at the venue and he’s finished inside the top 12 in five of his last six ISM Raceway starts, including four top-10s. The Dawsonville, Georgia, native averages a starting position of 6.0 and finishing position of 9.5 (third all-time best average finish at ISM). He has also won two stages at the Avondale, Arizona, track.
LAST TIME IN ARIZONA: Last season, for the second consecutive year, Elliott went into the final race of the Round of 8 in the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs needing a win to guarantee his spot in the Championship 4. Elliott found himself in the lead on multiple occasions in the penultimate race of the year, challenging for Victory Lane in thrilling fashion. But a win eluded Elliott at ISM Raceway. He was collected in a multiple-car incident while running inside the top 10 with fewer than 50 laps remaining, and the resulting damage was enough to essentially take him out of contention and his bid to race for a title in 2018 came to an end with a 23rd-place finish in the race.
GUSTAFSON AT ISM RACEWAY: No. 9 team crew chief Alan Gustafson will call his 29th Cup Series race at ISM Raceway from atop the pit box this weekend. In his previous 28 races calling the shots for five different drivers at the one-mile oval, he collected three wins, nine top-five results – two of which were runner-up finishes – 19 top-10s and 587 laps led. Gustafson’s three wins were with three different drivers (Busch – 2005, Martin – 2009, Gordon – 2011). As the crew chief, he worked with the oldest winner ever (Martin – 50 years, 3 months, 9 days) and the youngest winner ever (Busch – 20 years, 6 months, 11 days) at ISM Raceway.
COMING HOME: No. 9 team fueler John Gianninoto, who grew up in Tucson, Arizona, will compete in front of his hometown crowd at ISM Raceway. Gianninoto graduated with honors from Catalina Foothills High School and went on to sign as an offensive lineman for UNLV in 2006, earning his first letter in 2007 and becoming a team captain in 2010. Gianninoto participated in the Carolina Panthers' 2012 training camp before signing with Hendrick Motorsports in September 2012. Last season, he set a brand-new Guinness World Record with Sunoco for the most vehicles refueled by an individual in one hour (148).
WCWYW IS BACK: In addition to the return of the “When Chase Wins, You Win” promotion for the third-year, Hooters is revving up the excitement during NASCAR Cup Series race days in 2019. Throughout the season, fans can watch all the action and cheer on Elliott and the No. 9 team while enjoying 15 boneless wings and a pitcher of Mountain Dew or domestic beer (if over the age of 21) for just $15 on race days, only at participating locations. For more information, visit Hooters9.com.
HOOTERS: For the second consecutive week, the orange-and-white Hooters paint scheme will adorn the No. 9 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1. A casual dining establishment with a deep history in NASCAR, the Atlanta-based company will be a three-race primary sponsor of the No. 9 team in the 2019 NASCAR Cup Series season. Elliott will also pilot the No. 9 Hooters Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 at Dover International Speedway in October. Last weekend, Elliott collected a ninth-place finish in the Hooters Chevy at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
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