“I don’t know why the road courses have been good to us thus far. I came from short-track racing. I did a little bit of road-course racing in go karts, but I don’t know how much that translates. Most of my years coming along were short tracks around the country, asphalt racing -- very different from road-course racing. I do think a lot of the credit should go to Jeff (Gordon). Jeff was a fantastic road racer, as we all know. I really think he and Alan (Gustafson) had a very good understanding of what was important at road races and what they really wanted in the cars and what mattered. As a young driver coming into a situation like that, having a good foundation has really helped me learn and learn faster because that foundation was already close. I think when you step into a situation that is good like that, as a guy that is learning, it does nothing but help you and make you better.”
Crew Chief Alan Gustafson on his road-racing background:
“I've always had a love for road racing. My best friends growing up still road race. They have a shop here and have raced at the highest level, in the 24 Hours (of Daytona), and been very successful and won, and, yeah, a lot of my roots are there. It's just always been something that I've really enjoyed and loved. Any time you enjoy something, it's a huge benefit. The cars we raced back then don't have anything to do with what we race now, but I think just embracing it, enjoying it and seeing the positive side of it, all that helps, and I've always enjoyed road racing and enjoyed the challenge. I think that certainly helps when it comes to having to go do it and execute it.”
WHITE FLAG ON ROUND OF 12: Sunday will set the field for the Round of 8 in the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs. Chase Elliott currently sits fourth in the driver rankings with a 44-point advantage over ninth place. The No. 9 NAPA AUTO PARTS driver would advance to the Round of 8 by earning 32 points and being ahead of the sixth winless driver if there is a win by a playoff driver outside the top eight. If there is a repeat winner (Kurt Busch or Denny Hamlin), Elliott would clinch with 12 points and by scoring above the seventh winless driver in the standings.
ONE TO 1,000: Since Elliott’s first full-time NASCAR Cup Series season in 2016, he has a led a total of 999 laps during the NASCAR playoffs. If the Dawsonville, Georgia, native leads one lap this weekend at the Charlotte road course, he will reach the 1,000-lap mark. During the playoffs this season, he has led a total of 253 laps, his most ever through the first five races of the postseason.
NAPA KNOW HOW: On Sunday at Charlotte, the No. 9 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE will showcase the familiar blue, white and yellow NAPA AUTO PARTS paint scheme. 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 season. In February, it was announced that NAPA AUTO PARTS and Hendrick Motorsports will continue their partnership for another two seasons through 2022. Click here to read the full release.
PLAYOFF STATS: As the NASCAR playoffs approach the end of the Round of 12, Elliott has garnered the most stage points (64) and holds the best average running position (5.53) in the five playoff races. He has also collected the second-most points (190) and led the third-most laps (253).
ROAD-RACE RECORD: In August, Elliott scored his third consecutive road-course victory at the DAYTONA Road Course, matching NASCAR Hall of Famer Tony Stewart’s streak in 2004-2005. Four-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Jeff Gordon holds the record for most consecutive road-course wins with six (1997-2000).
ROAD WARRIOR: Elliott, driver of the No. 9 NAPA AUTO PARTS Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE, is set to make his 12th Cup Series start on a road course this weekend. On road courses, he is tied with Kyle Busch and Martin Truex Jr. for the most wins (four) of active drivers and has garnered five top-five finishes, seven top-10s and a total of 213 laps led. He has led 204 laps since the beginning of 2018, the most of all drivers, and holds the best overall average finish (9.6) on road courses of active drivers.
ROVAL REPEAT: On Sunday at Charlotte, Elliott and the No. 9 team look to become the first back-to-back winners at the roval. Last season, Elliott led a race-high 35 laps and overcame mid-event trouble to retake the lead on lap 65, capture his sixth career NASCAR Cup Series win and clinch his spot in the next round of the playoffs. He is tied with Clint Bowyer for the second-highest average finish at the roval (3.5) behind Hendrick Motorsports teammate Alex Bowman (3.0).
GOING FOR FIVE: No. 9 crew chief Alan Gustafson currently leads all active crew chiefs with four road-course wins: Watkins Glen in 2018 and 2019, the Charlotte roval in 2019, and the DAYTONA Road Course in 2020.
SEASON STATS: In 2020, Elliott has delivered career bests in laps led (783), top-five finishes (12), top-10s (18), stage points (264) and stage wins (eight) through 31 starts in a season. His two wins and three runner-up results are the second most for him at the 31-race mark.
GIVE A HOOT: During the month of October, the Chase Elliott online store will donate $5 from every pink item purchased to the Hooters Give a Hoot program benefiting the V Foundation to support the fight against breast cancer. Click here to shop.
Driver Chase Elliott Hometown Dawsonville, Georgia
Age 24 Resides Dawsonville, Georgia
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