Chase Elliott Phoenix Strategy: ‘Get in the Groove’
Phoenix (Feb. 25, 2014) – Now that the buildup of his NASCAR Nationwide Series debut is in the books, Chase Elliott’s next plans are to find a groove and stay in it.
The driver of the No. 9 NAPA AUTO PARTS Chevrolet finished 15th in last Saturday’s season-opener at Daytona to officially kick off the season. He spent the entire month of January anticipating the event. Now that it’s over, all he has to worry about are the remaining 32 races.
That starts this weekend at Phoenix International Raceway, the first of two west coast races in back-to-back weeks. The 18-year-old Georgia native started 16th and finished 10th in last season’s Camping World Truck Series race at PIR in November. The good news for this weekend is the one-mile PIR layout is better fit for Elliott’s style of racing, as he dominated the short track ranks during his rapid ascent through the developmental divisions. Also, PIR’s recent reconfiguration has even the most experienced racers scrapping their notes and starting anew.
Before Elliott heads to Phoenix, he will make a pit stop in Las Vegas on Wednesday for the NAPA AUTO PARTS Spring Owner’s Meeting at Mandalay Bay Hotel & Casino. There he will interact with 700 valued NAPA customers, store owners and employees, giving them a chance to meet their newest driver.
Quotes | Chase Elliott
“I gained invaluable experience from my team this past weekend at Daytona, and I will continue to soak up everything on the race track to get this NAPA AUTO PARTS Chevy great finishes. We have a good group of guys with a ton of chemistry brewing early on. Our goal as a team is to grow together race to race so we can be in the hunt for a championship at the end of the season. I need to pace myself and get in the groove of a long race season.”