Elliott Remains Third in Points Despite Tough Day at Watkins Glen

• Chase Elliott and the No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts team qualified 27th for Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Watkins Glen International, a road course that has proven tough to pass on in recent years.
• The 30-year-old driver finished stage one in 12th after some teams opted to pit prior to the end of the stage. Elliott followed that up with a 24th-place finish in stage two.
• In the final stage, multiple strategies unfolded. Elliott raced as high as 20th before ultimately finishing in the 24th position.
• Elliott remains third in the Cup Series point standings, 145 markers behind the leader

Chase Elliott and the No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts team qualified 27th for Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Watkins Glen International, a road course that has proven tough to pass on in recent years. After the green flag waved, Elliott fell to 30th but reported that the No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet felt better than it had during Saturday’s practice session. As the run went on, he improved to 29th before some teams began making green-flag pit stops ahead of the end of the stage. The No. 9 team opted not to pit, and Elliott took the green-and-white checkered flag in 12th on lap 20.

Under the stage-ending caution, Elliott relayed that he did not have a lot of rear grip. The NAPA Auto Parts team made a pit stop for four tires, fuel and adjustments. Elliott lined up 33rd to start stage two on lap 25. He initially improved to 31st before fading to 33rd ahead of a lap-40 caution. Crew chief Alan Gustafson called Elliott to pit road for another round of adjustments, four tires and fuel. The 30-year-old driver restarted toward the rear of the field on lap 44 and improved to 28th by lap 45. When the green-and-white checkered flag waved to end stage two on lap 50, he was scored in 24th.

After staying out during the stage break, Elliott restarted 20th on lap 55. He continued to run inside the top 25, holding his ground in 24th when the caution flag waved on lap 60. Elliott brought his No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet to the attention of his crew for four fresh tires and fuel. He lined up 27th for the lap-64 restart and improved to 23rd by lap 67. Shortly after, drivers that had stayed out during the previous caution began pitting under green. Elliott remained on track until Gustafson called him to pit road on lap 76 for fresh tires and fuel. After the stop, Elliott used the tire advantage to improve to 20th by lap 95. In the closing laps, the 2020 Cup Series champion lost a couple of positions to drivers with slightly fresher tires. Elliott battled hard until the checkered flag waved, ultimately crossing the line in 24th.

Despite the tough day, Elliott remains third in the Cup Series point standings leaving Watkins Glen.

Start / Finish: 27 / 24
Points Standing / Total: 3rd / 422 pts. (-145)

Next Race: Sunday, May 17, Dover Motor Speedway
How to Watch or Listen: 1:00 p.m. ET on FS1, SiriusXM or MRN

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