Elliott Battles to 25th in Challenging New Hampshire Race

• After turning the seventh-fastest lap in practice, Chase Elliott and the No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts team qualified 29th for Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
• Rain slightly delayed the start of Sunday’s race, with the field running the opening laps of the 301-lap event on wet weather tires.
• Elliott finished 23rd in each of the first two stages of the race while battling a tough handling condition.
• In the final stage, Elliott tried to make forward progress, but it was tough to pass on the 1.058-mile track. He took the checkered flag in the 25th position.
• With one race remaining before The Chase gets underway, Elliott sits eighth in the standings. He had already clinched a spot in The Chase last week at Richmond Raceway.

After showing promising speed in practice, Chase Elliott and the No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts team qualified 29th for Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. With rain taking over the track on Sunday afternoon, officials made the call for teams to start the race on wet weather tires. Following a brief delay at the start of the race, the field finally took the green flag. It wasn’t long before the first caution of the race came out for a spin by the leader. Elliott was scored 26th under the yellow. He chose the inside lane for the restart on lap seven and ran between 24th and 26th for several circuits as tight battles commenced. He improved to 23rd just before the lap-40 competition caution. With the track having dried significantly, teams were told to put on slick tires during a round of non-competitive pit stops. Elliott came in for four slick tires and fuel. Unfortunately, an issue during the stop required Elliott to return to pit road a second time. Elliott restarted 29th on lap 50 and was up to 25th before the race was slowed for another yellow flag. He chose the inside lane for the lap-56 restart and drove to 23rd to end the first stage on lap 70.

Elliott reported under the yellow flag that his No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevy was “lazy changing direction.” The team opted not to pit during the stage break, setting Elliott up to restart from the second row for stage two. He was scored in seventh when an incident brought out the caution on lap 84. After staying out a second time, Elliott opted for the outside of row four for the restart on lap 90. He tried to hang on to a top-10 running position on his older tires but ultimately faded outside the top 15 by lap 98. A long green-flag run ensued, with crew chief Alan Gustafson calling Elliott to pit road from 23rd for a scheduled pit stop on lap 118 for four tires, fuel and an adjustment. Elliott returned to the track in 30th and advanced as high as 18th as the field cycled through pit stops. He was running in 20th when reporting that his “right rear did not want to stick like it was yesterday.” Elliott ultimately ended the second stage in 23rd, one lap down.

Under the stage-ending caution, the team made a pit stop for four tires, fuel and air-pressure adjustments. Elliott took the green flag for the final stage from 24th on lap 193. He was scored 25th when the caution came out on lap 202. He reported that he was lacking rear grip, so he visited pit road for fresh tires, fuel and an adjustment. Elliott restarted from the inside lane on lap 209 and improved from 28th to being scored in 24th when a caution came out on lap 225. Elliott reported that the No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevy’s handling was better that run. The team opted to stay out and take the wave around to get back on the lead lap. He restarted 25th on lap 232 and was 26th when another caution came out on lap 233. The team took the opportunity to get four tires and fuel. Elliott was 28th to choose his lane for the restart, opting for the inside. The field went back to green on lap 239. Elliott advanced as high as 24th as the race continued to go caution-free. He ultimately took the checkered flag in the 25th position.

With just one race remaining until The Chase gets underway, Elliott sits eighth in the Cup Series points standings. He had already clinched a spot in The Chase last week at Richmond Raceway.

Start / Finish: 29 / 25
Points Standing / Total: 8th / 707 pts. (-294)

Next Race: Saturday, August 29, Daytona International Speedway
How to Watch or Listen: 7:30 p.m. ET on NBC, SiriusXM or MRN

NAPA: @NAPARacing
Chase Elliott: @ChaseElliott
Hendrick Motorsports: @TeamHendrick
No. 9 Team: @Hendrick9Team