Elliott Scores Top-10 Result at Kansas

• Chase Elliott started 18th in Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Kansas Speedway after qualifying was rained out and the lineup was set according to the rule book.
• Elliott advanced to eighth to end the first stage, collecting valuable points in the process. He followed that up with an 11th-place finish in stage two.
• In the final stage, Elliott drove the No. 9 Kelley Blue Book 100th Anniversary Chevrolet back inside the top 10, finishing the race in the eighth position.
• It was Elliott’s 200th top-10 finish in his Cup Series career.
• The 30-year-old driver is now 13th in the standings with six races remaining in The Chase.

Chase Elliott and the No. 9 Kelley Blue Book team started 18th in Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Kansas Speedway after qualifying was rained out and the lineup was set according to the rule book. In the opening laps of the 400-mile race, Elliott made quick work of the cars ahead of him. He reached the top 10 on lap 23 and was scored ninth when the competition caution came out on lap 36. Elliott relayed to crew chief Alan Gustafson that the No. 9 Kelley Blue Book 100th Anniversary Chevrolet was lazy with the front end, tight the first few laps and the back got more up out of the track as the run went on. After pitting for four tires, fuel and an air-pressure adjustment, Elliott lined up eighth for the restart on lap 41. He continued to battle up inside the top 10, ending the first stage in eighth on lap 80.

Under the stage break, the team made an air-pressure adjustment while pitting for four tires and fuel in an effort to improve the No. 9 Chevrolet’s handling. Elliott took the green flag for the second stage from the sixth position on lap 87. He continued to run inside the top 10 in the opening laps of the stage and was scored 10th when the caution flag waved on lap 114 for an incident. He reported that the handling was better in feel, but he got taken advantage of during that run. The team opted to pit for four tires, fuel and another air-pressure adjustment. Elliott restarted from the inside of row five on lap 122, but a multi-car incident occurred just after the field took the green, which slowed the race again. Elliott restarted 10th on lap 128 and tried to remain inside the top 10 before ultimately finishing the stage in 11th on lap 165.

This time, Gustafson called for a chassis adjustment during the pit stop for four tires and fuel. Elliott lined up for the final stage in ninth and got a great restart, maintaining a top-10 running position. A long green-flag run commenced, and Elliott was running in ninth when green-flag pit stops got underway on lap 211. Gustafson called his driver in on lap 219 for four tires, fuel and another chassis adjustment. Elliott returned to the track in the 13th position and cycled back up inside the top 10. He reached seventh on lap 226 before eventually taking the checkered flag in the eighth position to earn his 200th top-10 finish in the Cup Series.

With six races remaining in The Chase, Elliott sits 13th in the standings.

Start / Finish: 18 / 8
Points Standing / Total: 13th / 2,121 pts. (-161)

Next Race: Sunday, October 4, Las Vegas Motor Speedway
How to Watch or Listen: 5:30 p.m. ET on USA, SiriusXM or PRN

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