Elliott, SunEnergy1 Team Collect Runner-Up Finish at Charlotte

Chase Elliott and the No. 24 SunEnergy1 team continued their strong start to the 2017 NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs Sunday afternoon at Charlotte Motor Speedway with their third runner-up effort in four Playoff races.

Elliott started Sunday afternoon’s race in seventh, but it didn’t take long for him to find the front of the field. Elliott took the lead on Lap 41 and led 11 laps before eventually finishing Stage 1 in second.

During the stage break, the 21-year-old driver asked his SunEnergy1 team to improve the rear grip on his No. 24 Chevrolet. Elliott began Stage 2 from the sixth position and found himself back in second at Lap 141. The No. 24 team maintained the runner-up position through the end of Stage 2 to claim another nine points.

Elliott continued racing inside the top five throughout the third and final stage. With 24 laps to go, the Dawsonville, Georgia, native had piloted the No. 24 SunEnergy1 Chevrolet SS up to third place.

Following a late-race caution, he maintained that position thanks to a quick pit stop and restarted third with four laps remaining. That is where Elliott remained when yet another caution sent the race to overtime. In the extra laps, Elliott muscled his way into second where he’d ultimately finish the race.

With the runner-up position, Elliott now ranks fourth in the 2017 NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs as the series heads to Talladega Superspeedway next weekend.

Start / Finish: 7^th / 2^nd
Points Earned: 53
Points Standing / Total: 4^th / 3059 points

Next Race: October 15, Alabama 500, Talladega Superspeedway
How to Watch or Listen: 2:00 p.m. ET on NBC, MRN, SiriusXM Channel 90

NAPA: @NAPARacing
Chase Elliott: @ChaseElliott
Hendrick Motorsports: @TeamHendrick
No. 24 Team: @Hendrick24Team