Dawsonville to Hollywood: Chase Elliott Heads West

FONTANA, Calif. (March 19, 2014) – Chase Elliott is once again heading west, just as he did two weeks ago, but this time some 281 miles past Las Vegas Motor Speedway to Los Angeles, Calif.

The first stop on Elliott’s tour will be a Los Angeles Lakers basketball game Wednesday night.  He’ll sit in section 111 (half court) across from the likes of Jack Nicholson and Dustin Hoffman at the famed Staples Center as the Lakers take on the San Antonio Spurs.

On Thursday the high school senior from Dawsonville, Ga., will visit NASCAR’s L.A. offices in the morning, make a pit stop at Paramount Studios in the afternoon, and later arrive at Warner Bros. Studios for a private meet-and-greet with Ashton Kutcher, star of “That 70s Show,” “Two and a Half Men” and other Hollywood TV and film hits.

If Elliott has his way, his two-day mingle with the celebrities will be a precursor to a memorable week out west, as Friday morning he’ll return to his real joy – driving the NAPA Chevrolet.  Elliott will look to continue a three-race top-10 streak, which includes a pair of ninth-place finishes (Phoenix on March 1 and Bristol on March 15) and a fifth-place effort at Las Vegas (March 8).

Saturday’s TreatMyClot.com 300 at the two-mile Auto Club Speedway will start at 5 p.m. ET on ESPN.  The driver of the No. 9 NAPA AUTO PARTS Chevrolet enters the weekend fourth in the Nationwide Series championship point standings, just 13 points behind teammate and leader Regan Smith.  Elliott also enters the week tied for the lead in the Sunoco Rookie of the Year standings.

Driver Quotes | Chase Elliott

“This week is going to be one I remember for the rest of my life, having the opportunity to do the things we’re going to do Wednesday and Thursday in L.A. and then debuting at Auto Club, a two-mile track which I don’t have experience on. You always remember your first time doing something. I’ve heard it all along, this place is so line sensitive and has always made for some really good racing. I think the best thing I can do is look back on previous races and talk to my teammates in order to help utilize all information available.”

TV Schedule (All times Eastern Standard Time):

Friday, March 21
4:40 PM                      NNS Practice                                                              FOX Sports 1
6:00 PM                      NNS Final Practice                                                     FOX Sports 1 

Saturday, March 22
1:35 PM                      NNS Qualifying                                                          FOX Sports 1
5:00 PM                      NNS Race                                                                    ESPN

Radio:

MRN & Sirius XM Ch 90 (4:30 pm ET)

2014 NATIONWIDE SERIES DRIVER POINTS

1. Regan Smith…………………………………….. 151
2. Trevor Bayne………………………………………. -1
3. Ty Dillon…………………………………………….. -8
4. Chase Elliott……………………………………… -13
5. Elliott Sadler…………………………………….. -16
6. Brendan Gaughan………………………………. -20
7. Brian Scott……………………………………….. -24
8. James Buescher…………………………………. -34
9. Dylan Kwasniewski…………………………….. -35
10. Landon Cassill………………………………….. -46

2014 SUNOCO ROOKIE OF THE YEAR POINTS

1. Ty Dillon……………………………………………. 51
2. Chase Elliott………………………………………. 51
3. Dylan Kwasniewski…………………………….. -14
4. Chris Buescher………………………………….. -22
5. Ryan Reed………………………………………… -23
6. Dakoda Armstrong……………………………… -23
7. Tanner Berryhill………………………………… -35
8. Tommy Joe Martins……………………………. -42
9. Chad Boat…………………………………………. -45

NAPA AUTO PARTS: @theNAPAnetwork

CHASE ELLIOTT: @ChaseElliott

JR Motorsports: @JRMotorsports