Elliott, NAPA Team Wrap Up 2023 Season with 16th-Place Result at Phoenix

• Chase Elliott qualified 20th for Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series season finale at Phoenix Raceway.
• The 27-year-old driver raced his way to 18th to end stage one and finished stage two in 21st.
• Elliott and the NAPA Auto Parts team rallied in the final stage to earn a 16th-place result.
• The 2020 Cup Series champion ended the season 17th in driver points, the highest possible finishing position for Elliott after missing the 2023 playoffs.
• The No. 9 team ultimately ended the season 10th in points after its run in the owner championship playoffs.

Chase Elliott and the No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts team qualified in the 20th position for Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series finale at Phoenix Raceway. At the drop of the green flag, Elliott climbed further inside the top 20. He battled hard for position in the caution-free first stage, ultimately ending it in the 18th position on lap 60. Under the stage ending caution, the 27-year-old driver reported to his NAPA Auto Parts team that the No. 9 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 was loose towards the end of the run. When he brought the NAPA Chevrolet to pit road, the team opted for four tires, fuel and a chassis adjustment. 

Elliott started the second stage from the 21st position on lap 68 and propelled himself to 20th by lap 62. Scored in 23rd on lap 79, the Dawsonville, Georgia, native relayed to crew chief Alan Gustafson that the No. 9 NAPA Chevy was pretty good in turn three and tight in turns one and two. Elliott was scored in 25th when the caution flag waved on lap 109. After pitting for four tires and fuel, the 2020 Cup Series champion lined up 22nd for the restart on lap 116. Elliott dropped back to 24th early in the run and methodically improved his position from there. When the green-and-white checkered flag waved to end the second stage at lap 185, the Hendrick Motorsports driver was scored in the 21st position.

After pitting for four tires, fuel and an adjustment, Elliott lined up 21st to start the final stage of the 312-lap race. He initially progressed to 19th before losing some ground to the leaders as the run went on. Running in 24th when green-flag pit stops got under way, the driver of the No. 9 came to pit road for four tires and fuel on lap 242. Elliott was in 26th when he made his way back out onto the track. After going a lap down near lap 270, the team caught a break as the caution flag was displayed on lap 275. Elliott received the free pass and made his way to pit road for his final pit stop of the race for four tires and fuel. He restarted in 22nd on lap 281 and maneuvered his way inside to the top 20 on lap 287. Elliott didn’t stop there as he continued to gain spots in the closing laps. When the checkered flag waved, he crossed the line in the 16th position.

Start / Finish: 20 / 16
Points Standing / Total: 17th / 820 pts.

Next Race: Sunday, February 4, 2024, Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
How to Watch or Listen: 8:00 p.m. ET on FOX, MRN or SiriusXM

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