Elliott Places 11th at Pocono

• Chase Elliott and the No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts team qualified 23rd for Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Pocono Raceway.
• The 30-year-old driver finished 12th in stage one before earning a stage point with a 10th-place result in stage two.
• Late in the final stage, Elliott began battling a loose handling condition with his No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet. He fought hard to try to remain inside the top 10 before ultimately taking the checkered flag in 11th.
• Elliott remains fourth in the Cup Series points standings, 195 points behind the leader.

Chase Elliott and the No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts team qualified 23rd for Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Pocono Raceway. Once the green flag waved, Elliott improved to 21st by lap 20 and relayed positive feedback about his No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet. The 30-year-old driver continued to climb through the field and was running 19th when some competitors began pitting late in the stage. When the green-and-white checkered flag waved on lap 30, Elliott was scored with a 12th-place finish.

Under the stage-ending caution, crew chief Alan Gustafson called Elliott to pit road for four fresh tires and fuel. A fast stop by the No. 9 crew gained him four positions. With multiple cars staying out, Elliott was 14th to choose his lane for the start of stage two, opting for the inside of row seven. He reached the top 10 for the first time on lap 38 and continued to advance, running seventh when a caution came out on lap 41. Staying out under the yellow, Elliott remained in the same position for the choose and selected the outside of row four for the lap-45 restart. He advanced to sixth before another caution slowed the race just two laps later. This time, Elliott brought the No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet to pit road for right-side tires and fuel. Due to varying pit strategies, he restarted 14th on lap 53 and methodically worked his way forward, reaching fourth by lap 72. Shortly after, the teams that had opted not to pit during the previous caution began making their way to pit road. Elliott took over the lead on lap 79 and held it for nearly 10 laps. He visited pit road from second on lap 91 for four fresh tires and fuel. Elliott returned to the track in 14th and improved to 10th by the end of stage two on lap 95.

After staying out during the stage-ending caution, Elliott restarted fifth on lap 102. He was up to fourth when the yellow flag came out on lap 105. Opting not to pit, the 2020 Cup Series champion chose the outside of row three for the lap-111 restart. Elliott was running second when he brought the No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet to pit road on lap 120 for four tires and fuel. He returned to the track in 21st as green-flag pit stops continued. Elliott reached the top 10 on lap 136 and advanced as high as eighth, but he began battling a loose handling condition as the run progressed. He fought hard to remain inside the top 10 before ultimately taking the checkered flag in 11th.

Start / Finish: 23 / 11
Points Standing / Total: 4th / 509 pts. (-195)

Next Race: Sunday, June 21, San Diego Street Course
How to Watch or Listen: 4:00 p.m. ET on Prime Video, SiriusXM or MRN

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