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| Chase Elliott has been amazing with the 550 HP race package in 2020. |
“So far, our prep hasn’t been any different for this weekend’s doubleheader. We ultimately want to run one car the whole weekend. I think keeping that in mind during the race on Saturday, but at the same time I don’t know that you are really going to approach it much different. You always want to try and finish, and finish toward the front, so I don’t think that is going to change. I do think track position is going to be really important with the shorter races, though, especially lining yourself up for the last stage in each event because it is going to be so short. It’s going to be hard to make up a lot of ground in a hurry."
Crew chief Alan Gustafson on the challenges of a Pocono doubleheader:
“The doubleheader at Pocono is a bit of an unknown because we haven’t done it before. You want to go run well in the first race and not have any issues and not have any failures, damage or anything. I think that’s the biggest thing, performing well in the first race and understanding that even if it goes smooth, what parts are we going to have to change, the condition of the parts and pieces, thoroughly going over the car for the second race. That is going to be challenging. Then, if you aren’t very good in the first race, being able to adapt quickly and make the adjustments necessary to improve for the second race. There’s just not a lot of time. Those are the two things that really stand out to me. On one hand, if you run really well you want to make sure the condition of your car is good for the next day and on the other hand, if you don’t run well you want to be able to adapt and make as many of the correct adjustments as possible.”
OUT FRONT: In the first 13 races of the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series season, Chase Elliott has led a total of 425 laps – the third-highest in the series. He needs 177 more to surpass his Cup Series career-high of 601 laps led.
TRENDING UPWARD: Elliott, the driver of the No. 9 NAPA AUTO PARTS Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE, continues to lead all Cup drivers with five stage wins, 143 stage points and a series-best 7.39 average running position. His 11 races led are tied for the most in the series.
THE STREAK CONTINUES: Elliott is tied with Joey Logano for the longest active streak of consecutive races led with eight. It is Elliott’s longest career stretch of races with laps led.
TOP-10 TRACK: As the NASCAR Cup Series heads to Pocono Raceway for a weekend doubleheader, Elliott currently holds six top-10 finishes at the “Tricky Triangle,” which tie his results at Dover for the second-most total top-10s he has at any track.
NO STRANGER TO POCONO: Elliott has made eight Cup Series starts at Pocono and collected two top-five finishes. His lone NASCAR Xfinity Series race there came in 2018 when he started 10th and notched a runner-up finish in the 100-lap event. In his first of two ARCA Series starts at Pocono, Elliott started 32nd and went on to lead 21 laps before earning his first career ARCA win in June 2013.
NAPA DOES THE DOUBLE: The familiar blue, white and yellow NAPA AUTO PARTS paint scheme will return to the No. 9 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE for both races this weekend at Pocono Raceway. The Atlanta-based company is serving as majority sponsor for Elliott and the No. 9 team for a total of 26 NASCAR Cup Series races this year.
ENGINE, ENGINE NO. 9: This weekend, Elliott could become the third driver to win at Pocono with the No. 9 car. The iconic number is currently tied with the Nos. 2 and 24 for third for the most victories at the track with six. Elliott's father, NASCAR Hall of Famer Bill Elliott, garnered five of those wins and Kasey Kahne collected the most recent victory in the No. 9 in June 2008. Only the Nos. 11 and 88 have more Pocono wins.
GUSTAFSON AT THE 'TRICKY TRIANGLE': No. 9 team crew chief Alan Gustafson has called 30 races from atop the pit box at Pocono, and he will add two more to his resumé this weekend. In his previous starts at the 2.5-mile triangle with five different drivers (Elliott, Jeff Gordon, Mark Martin, Casey Mears and Kyle Busch), Gustafson has collected two wins (with Gordon in June 2011 and August 2012), seven top-five finishes and 17 top-10s.
HOME SWEET HOME: As the Cup Series heads north for the Pocono doubleheader, there are two members of the No. 9 team who call the Keystone State home. Car chief Matt Barndt hails from Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, and primary truck driver Heath Edler is from Williamsport, Pennsylvania.
PIT CRUISING: Among the teams competing in the NASCAR Cup Series, the No. 9 pit crew ranks second in best average time for four-tire stops at 13.96 seconds through 13 races in 2020.
BEHIND THE 9: Gustafson is trying his hand as a host in a new Hendrick Motorsports video series called “Behind the 9” in which he interviews each member of the No. 9 crew. Fans can learn about where they came from and the role they serve on the team, with each bringing a unique personality and skillset. Episodes are released every Tuesday on the Hendrick Motorsports Facebook page and YouTube channel. The most recent episode features tire changer Chad Avrit.
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