DAYTONA 500 REWIND: Chase Elliott was putting together a solid race at Daytona International Speedway last Sunday when he got caught up in a multi-car incident in stage two. The heavy damage to the No. 9 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 ultimately forced an early exit for the team on lap 119. The two-time DAYTONA 500 pole sitter was scored with a 38th-place finish.
GOING BACK TO CALI: On Sunday, Elliott will make his seventh NASCAR Cup Series start at Auto Club Speedway (ACS). In the Dawsonville, Georgia, native’s most recent start there, Elliott was battling for the lead late in the race when he made contact with the wall after a block from another car. He ultimately finished 26th. While the 27-year-old has never won at ACS, his 12.17 average finish at the track is third-best among drivers in Sunday’s field. In his six Cup Series starts there, he has three top-10 finishes with a best effort of fourth in 2020. Elliott also made two NASCAR Xfinity Series starts at ACS, finishing sixth during his 2014 championship campaign and fourth in 2015.
2-MILE STATS: This weekend, Elliott is set to make his 19th Cup start at a 2-mile track (ACS and Michigan International Speedway). In his 18 previous Cup Series starts on this track length, Elliott has earned four top-five finishes – including three runner-up efforts – and 13 top-10s with 161 laps led. The 2020 Cup Series champion’s average finish of 9.39 on 2-mile ovals ranks best of all active drivers and second-best among all drivers with more than two starts.
GUSTAFSON AT ACS: No. 9 team crew chief Alan Gustafson is set to call his 24th race from atop the pit box at the Fontana, California, track this weekend. The track is home to the veteran crew chief’s first career Cup Series pole (February 2005) as well as his first win (September 2005) – both of which were with Kyle Busch as the driver. In his 23 Cup starts at ACS, Gustafson has one win, five top-five finishes and 12 top-10s.
NAPA IN THE VALLEY: NAPA Auto Parts will serve as the No. 9 team’s primary partner this weekend. The Atlanta-based company’s colors have been on board Elliott’s Chevrolet for each of his previous eight career starts across the Cup and Xfinity Series on the 2-mile oval. See this year’s paint scheme here.
NEW TO THE FAMILY: Last Thursday, it was announced that the Coca-Cola Company (NYSE: KO) joined Hendrick Motorsports as the Official Beverage Partner of Elliott and the No. 9 team. Throughout the 2023 season, Coca-Cola will appear as an associate sponsor of Elliott’s race cars and the iconic beverage brand will also adorn the No. 9 team’s uniforms and equipment. Read more about it here.
HOME TO CALIFORNIA: No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts rear-tire changer Chad Avrit will compete at his home track in “The Golden State” this weekend. Avrit grew up in El Centro, California, and was an avid surfer before moving to Mooresville, North Carolina, to pursue a career in motor sports. When not at the track, he enjoys spending time with his two sons, hanging out on the lake and mountain biking.
Chase Elliott, driver of the No. 9 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on starting the West Coast swing: "I'm looking forward to kicking off the West Coast swing at Fontana. I really enjoy going out there. The track is unique and it's just a cool place. It’s one of those places you kind of forget about until it comes up on the schedule because you only race there once a year and it’s so early in the season. I felt like we had a pretty good run going there towards the end last year but didn’t end up with the finish to show for it. Hopefully, we’re able to improve upon that this weekend."
Alan Gustafson, crew chief of the No. 9 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on returning to the site of his first win as a crew chief: "Fontana is kind of special for me. It’s where I got my first win and I just really enjoy going there. It’s a really fast track and it’s super unique. It’ll be interesting this weekend with the weather. Hopefully, it holds off and we’re able to get some practice time in, but it could be a situation where we’re starting the race on Sunday without any track time." | 
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