Pendulum Swings in Elliott’s Favor as NXS Breezes into Chicago
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| Chase Elliott |
DRIVER: Chase Elliott / No. 9 NAPA AUTO PARTS Chevrolet
RACE: Owens Corning Atticat 300 (200 laps / 300 miles)
TRACK: Chicagoland Speedway
DATE: Saturday, June 20, 2015
MOORESVILLE, N.C. (June 17, 2015) – Momentum will be on the side of NAPA AUTO PARTS driver Chase Elliott as the NASCAR XFINITY Series (NXS) rolls into Chicagoland Speedway this weekend. The momentum from a second-place finish at Michigan last weekend, and a series-leading 11 top-10 finishes couldn't come at a better time for Elliott, who returns to the site of his most recent NXS victory. Saturday night's event will cap a busy week of racing for the Georgia native, which also included the "Battle of Berlin" late model race in Marne, Mich.
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| Last year's win in Chicago helped vault young Elliott to the NASCAR Xfinity Series championship |
Continuing his Midwest tour, Elliott now focuses on the 1.5-mile tri-oval of Chicagoland, a track that holds a special place for the defending NXS champion. Last summer, it was a cool and clear night in Chicago when Elliott wheeled the No. 9 NAPA AUTO PARTS Chevrolet to his third win of the 2014 season in his first visit to the facility. The win propelled Elliott into the series points lead, where he held point for the remainder of the 2014 season en route to his first NXS championship.
With two career races to his credit at Chicagoland, Elliott has led in both for a total of 87 laps and holds a stellar average start of 3.5. The last time Elliott and the NAPA squad raced during a non-NASCAR Sprint Cup Series weekend was at Iowa four weeks ago, where Elliott led a race-high 114 laps (the most he's led in a single NXS race) and finished second.
This weekend Elliott, who will be carrying the Chevrolet in-car camera, will look to gain ground on the championship standings as the XFINITY Series race from Chicagoland Speedway airs at 9:30 p.m. ET on FOX Sports 1. MRN Radio/Sirius XM NASCAR Ch. 90 will carry the race beginning at 9 p.m. ET.
Elliott Quotes:
"Chicago is a fun race track that has many grooves, which makes for a lot of exciting racing. I really enjoyed going there last season. We had some success there in July which really gives me a confidence boost heading into the weekend. I was able to pick up on a few tips through two races there last season that I can use to my advantage Saturday night."
Coming off a Michigan second-place finish leading into Chicago:
"We are in this for the long haul and understand it's a lengthy season. My NAPA team and I are committed to getting better each time we go out and race, that's where it has to begin. Last weekend in Michigan we found success, but came up just a bit short to Kyle (Busch, Michigan race winner). I'm going to ride that momentum this week with my late model guys at Berlin (Berlin Raceway) on Tuesday and be as prepared as possible to visit Chicagoland's victory lane once again."
JR Motorsports