Elliott Finishes 23rd after Tough Day at Phoenix Raceway

• Chase Elliott qualified 26th for Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Phoenix Raceway.
• The 30-year-old driver improved to 20th to end the first stage. In the second stage, Elliott was caught up in a multi-car incident where the No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet sustained damage to the left rear. After repairs were made under caution, Elliott continued on to finish the second stage in 13th.
• In the final stage, Elliott turned laps inside the top 10 before he was collected in another incident. This time, the No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevy received right front damage. After pitting twice for repairs under the yellow, Elliott battled back to finish the 312-lap race in 23rd.
• Elliott leaves Phoenix fourth in the Cup Series points standings, 97 markers behind the leader.

Chase Elliott and the No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts team qualified 26th for Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Phoenix Raceway. At the start of the 312-lap event, Elliott made headway, climbing to 18th early. He continued to turn laps in the top 20, ultimately ending the caution-free first stage in 20th at lap 60. Under the stage-ending caution, Elliott relayed to crew chief Alan Gustafson that the No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet was free. The 2020 Cup Series champion brought the No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevy to the attention of his pit crew for four tires, fuel and an adjustment.

Elliott was 18th to choose his lane for the start of stage two, opting for the inside. The field went back to green on lap 71, and he settled into 18th before slipping to 20th on lap 80. Elliott was running in 21st when the caution came out on lap 94 for a single-car incident. He reported to his team that the No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevy’s handling was better. After a fast stop for four tires and fuel, he lined up 14th for the lap-102 restart. Unfortunately, he was caught up in a multi-car incident before he could take advantage of the gained track position. Under the caution, Elliott came to pit road for four tires and repairs to his Chevy’s damaged left rear. Elliott restarted deep in the field and was up to 28th when the yellow flag was displayed on lap 133. Gustafson called Elliott to pit road for four tires and fuel. A fast stop helped Elliott restart in the 20th position. He climbed as high as 17th and was scored in 18th when the race was slowed for debris on lap 158. After pitting for four tires, fuel and an air-pressure adjustment, Elliott lined up 15th to choose his lane for the restart, opting for the top. The field went back to green on lap 168, and the 30-year-old driver climbed to the 10th position on lap 172 before ending the second stage in 13th at lap 185.

During the stage break, Elliott visited pit road for fuel and four fresh tires. He was 10th to choose his lane to start the final stage, lining up on the outside. Elliott turned laps in the top 10 before slipping to 13th on lap 201. He was scored in 18th when the caution flag was displayed at lap 210. With the team down a set of tires from having to pit following the stage-two incident, the call was made for Elliott to stay out while a majority of the field pitted. He lined up on the front row for the restart, in the second position. Almost immediately after taking the green flag, a multi-car incident slowed the race once again. Elliott was running in third under the yellow and remained on the track to restart from the second row on lap 226. On his older tires, Elliott quickly faded outside the top 20. He was 31st at the time of the next caution on lap 246.

After pitting for four tires and fuel, Elliott restarted in 24th on lap 253. He was collected in a multi-car incident shortly after the field retook the green. This time, the No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevy suffered damage to the right front. Elliott pitted twice for the team to work on repairs. He restarted in 28th at lap 264 and, after initially gaining positions, he slipped back to 28th. As the run went on, he improved to 25th and was scored in 24th at the time of the next caution on lap 288. Gustafson called Elliott to pit road for four tires, fuel and an adjustment. The driver of the No. 9 restarted 23rd and maneuvered to 21st before another incident brought out the yellow flag with just 18 laps to go. Staying out, Elliott restarted from 21st with 13 circuits remaining. He battled hard for position in his damaged Chevy, ultimately taking the checkered flag in 23rd.

Elliott is now fourth in the Cup Series points standings, 97 markers behind the leader.

Start / Finish: 26 / 23
Points Standing / Total: 4th / 128 pts. (-97)

Next Race: Sunday, March 15, Las Vegas Motor Speedway
How to Watch or Listen: 4:00 p.m. ET on FS1, SiriusXM or PRN

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