Elliott Bounces Back for Top-20 Finish after Stage Two Incident at Atlanta

• Chase Elliott and the No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts team qualified 19th for Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
• The 29-year-old driver finished stage one in fifth before being caught up in an incident in the second stage. The NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet suffered damage but the team was able to make repairs and get Elliott back out on the track only two laps down.
• In the final stage, the Dawsonville, Georgia, native managed to get back on the lead lap and rallied to a 20th-place finish.
• Elliott remains 10th in the Cup Series points standings.

On Sunday, the NASCAR Cup Series competed at Chase Elliott’s home track, Atlanta Motor Speedway. Elliott’s No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet started in the 19th position. Once the 400-mile race was underway, the Dawsonville, Georgia, native began working his way through the field, breaking into the top 10 for the first time on lap 37. When the green-and-white checkered flag signaled the end of the caution-free first stage, Elliott secured a fifth-place finish.

During the stage break, crew chief Alan Gustafson asked for feedback on the NAPA Auto Parts Chevy’s handling. Elliott reported no complaints before heading to pit road for four fresh tires and fuel. He lined up in the third row for the start of the second stage but was shuffled outside the top 10 by lap 75. When a caution came out on lap 83, Elliott was running in 13th. After pitting for fuel only, he rejoined the field in 12th and chose the outside lane for the restart.

As the stage progressed, the 29-year-old driver worked his way back into the top 10, running ninth when another caution came out on lap 135. The No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts team opted for four tires and fuel, while some competitors stayed on track. Elliott restarted 16th and used his fresh tires to break back into the top 10 before getting caught in a multi-car incident that brought out the caution on lap 151. The team made repairs on pit road during the caution, and Elliott returned to the track two laps down. He was scored in 35th at the conclusion of the second stage on lap 160.

During the stage-ending caution, the team continued working on the NAPA Auto Parts Chevy. Elliott took the green flag for the final stage still two laps down but managed to regain one by staying out during the lap-185 caution to take the wave around. Now just one lap down, he restarted 29th and was in position for the free pass when another caution came out on lap 206.

After pitting for four fresh tires and fuel, Elliott lined up 26th for the restart with 49 laps remaining. He navigated through the chaos in the closing laps, bringing his wounded Chevrolet home with a 20th-place finish.

Leaving Atlanta, Elliott remains 10th in the Cup Series points standings, just 31 points behind the leader.

Start / Finish: 19 / 20
Points Standing / Total: 10th / 56 pts. (-31)

Next Race: Sunday, March 2, Circuit of the Americas
How to Watch or Listen: 3:30 p.m. ET on FOX, PRN or SiriusXM

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