Elliott Battles to 21st-Place Finish after Early Incident in the Clash

• This weekend, the NASCAR Cup Series kicked off its season with the Clash at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. 
• Chase Elliott qualified 30th on Saturday evening, putting him in the second heat race on Sunday afternoon. The 2020 NASCAR Cup Series champion came up just short of advancing from his heat and started on the pole for the second of two last chance qualifiers. He led every lap on his way to the win, securing his spot in Sunday evening’s 150-lap main event.
• The Dawsonville, Georgia, native started the race from the 22nd position and was trying to work his way forward when he got caught up in a multi-car incident that brought out the caution on lap 23.
• Elliott’s No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet suffered damage to the nose, but he was able to remain on the track. After repairs made during the race’s halfway point, the Hendrick Motorsports driver continued to battle down to the last lap to ultimately earn a 21st-place finish.

The NASCAR Cup Series kicked off the 2023 season with Sunday’s Clash at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, a non-points paying exhibition event. Elliott and the NAPA Auto Parts team had their work cut out for them after qualifying 30th on Saturday evening, but they were up for the task. The 27-year-old lined up eighth for the second heat race and finished sixth in the 25-lap event, forcing him into the second last chance qualifier. Elliott started the LCQ from the top spot and led every lap to advance into Sunday evening’s 150-lap main event.

The Dawsonville, Georgia, native started the race from the 22nd position and was trying to work his way forward when he got caught up in a multi-car incident that brought out the caution on lap 23. Contact with another car caused damage to the nose of the No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, but Elliott was able to stay out on the track. The damage caused a tight handling condition, which the team worked to repair during the six-minute break at the midpoint of the race. Even with the repairs, his Chevrolet was too wounded to advance up inside the top-10 and Elliott ultimately ended the caution-filled race in the 21st position.

Start / Finish: 22 / 21

Next Race: Sunday, February 19, Daytona International Speedway
How to Watch or Listen: 2:00 p.m. ET on FOX, MRN and SiriusXM

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