Chase Elliott’s recent NASCAR Cup Series playoff drives have been helped by victories on the Charlotte Motor Speedway Roval course in each of the last two seasons.
Elliott’s third consecutive win at the Roval would be a critical and well-timed component in a championship run, with only a small points cushion to avoid elimination in the Round 2 finale on Sunday.
Elliott, whose two previous victories this season have both come on road courses, sees no reason why he and his No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports team can’t win.
“I think we can go and have a shot at doing that. I think we can go and get stage points and I think we can vie for the win, as well. I don’t see why all that stuff is not achievable. I think it’s very much within reach,” Elliott said.
“We have to go perform at a high level, execute a solid race, and I think if we do our part and do all the things I know we are capable of, I think we can check all the boxes.
“So, that’s what I’m going for.”
Elliott, 25, is ranked seventh among the 12 remaining playoff drivers heading into Sunday’s race. Both he and Kyle Busch are nine points ahead of the cutoff line. Following Sunday’s race, the four drivers with the fewest points and no wins will be eliminated from title contention.
Escaping elimination
With Kyle Larson in the best position, 22 points above the cutoff line, all four Hendrick drivers may yet fail to advance.
To advance to the next round, both William Byron and Alex Bowman would need to win the race, therefore an all-Hendrick Championship 4 appears to be out of the question this season.
Last season, Elliott used his Roval victory to advance to the semifinal round of the playoffs, and his victory at Martinsville, Va., secured his berth in the championship race at Phoenix, which he also won to claim his first series title.
On a track that likes to produce chaotic situations, the nine-point cushion is not much to work with.
With only one driver – Denny Hamlin – presently locked into the semifinal round (because to his victory in Las Vegas), that leaves 11 other drivers vying for a win with 11 different plans on how to generate the best result.
“Stage points are going to be super valuable. We have to be aware of that. You also have to be aware of the guys who are kind of out of reach on making it in on points. They’re going to call a different race than the guys that need stage points,” Elliott said.
“Road courses typically lend to drivers and teams jumping stages to allow them better track position location for the following stage or the final stage. That’s going to be hard to do, frankly, for guys who need the points.
“So, you’re going to have different races being called, all kind of within one event.”
No one should take Sunday’s do-or-die situation for playoff drivers for granted, according to Elliott.
“Like I always say, if you ever get to that last race, the cutoff race anyway, you better enjoy the moment,” he said. “You better like having your back against the wall, and have to perform, because if you ever want to win, that’s how it’s going to be.
“I’m looking forward to it and excited for the opportunity.”
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