Last-Lap Incident Keeps Elliott and No. 9 Team from Top-15 Result in Chicago

• Chase Elliott and the No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts team qualified 18th for Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race on the Chicago Street Course. The event, held in downtown Chicago, was plagued with rain for the second consecutive year. The race got under way after a brief shower at the track, with some teams on wet weather tires and others on slicks.
• Elliott started on slicks and was up to 13th when a caution came out on lap 16. The stage ultimately ended under the caution as rain returned to the track.
• The No. 9 team put on wet weather tires to start the second stage. The race was red flagged shortly after as the rainfall picked up. Teams were told the race would need to end by 9:20 p.m. ET.
• Once back to green, the track slowly began to dry. The team switched to slick tires under the green flag just before the end of the stage, with Elliott finishing it in the 27th position.
• During the final stage, Elliott came on strong in the closing laps. He was up to 14th on the final lap of the race, but got turned and lost pivotal track position. He continued on, taking the checkered flag in 21st.
• Elliott is currently second in the Cup Series driver points standings, only 11 points behind the leader, Hendrick Motorsports teammate Kyle Larson.

Chase Elliott and the No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts team qualified 18th for the NASCAR Cup Series race on the Chicago Street Course. Just as drivers were getting ready to roll off the grid on Sunday afternoon, it began to rain on the course. Teams had the option to use wet weather tires or slicks to start the race. The No. 9 team took the green flag on slick tires, with Elliott gaining track position in the opening laps. He was up to 13th on lap four, where he remained until the first caution of the race came out on lap 16 for an on-track incident. Under the yellow, he relayed that he liked the No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet Camaro ZL1’s balance. The stage ultimately ended under the yellow flag at the conclusion of lap 20 as rain returned to the track.

After pitting for wet weather tires and fuel, Elliott lined up 14th for stage two. The field took the green flag on lap 25 in the rain, and it didn’t take long for another incident to occur. NASCAR officials ultimately decided to red flag the race for weather, with Elliott scored in eighth. Once the rain cleared the area, the red flag was lifted. The Dawsonville, Georgia, native lined up in eighth for the single-file restart and advanced to sixth before another caution came out on lap 35. Staying out, he restarted from sixth but began to lose positions during the run as his Chevrolet was tight through the center of the turns on wet weather tires. By lap 40, Elliott was in the 15th position. Two laps later, crew chief Alan Gustafson made the call to pit for slick tires and fuel. Elliott got back on the course in the 33rd position and advanced to 27th before the green-and-white checkered flag waved to end stage two on lap 45.

During the final stage, which was shortened due to the race needing to end by 9:20 p.m. ET, Elliott was cautious as the track continued to dry. He came on strong during the final restart at lap 53 and advanced to 14th by the final lap of the race. However, Elliott got turned in the latter portion of the course and ultimately took the checkered flag in the 21st position.

The 28-year-old driver remains second in the Cup Series driver points standings and is only 11 markers behind the leader, Hendrick Motorsports teammate Kyle Larson.

Start / Finish: 18 / 21
Points Standing / Total: 2nd / 660 pts. (-11)

Next Race: Sunday, July 14, Pocono Raceway
How to Watch or Listen: 2:30 p.m. ET on USA, MRN or SiriusXM

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