At the Coke Zero Sugar 400 held on August 23 at Daytona International Speedway, Ryan Blaney secured the win, a result that helped Alex Bowman clinch a spot in the NASCAR playoffs based on points. Chase Elliott, Bowman’s Hendrick Motorsports teammate, finished the race in 10th place and currently holds seven playoff points, while Bowman qualified as the final, 16th driver entering the postseason. Elliott expressed satisfaction with Bowman’s advancement after Blaney’s victory played a pivotal role.
Addressing the media after the event, Elliott reflected on the playoff dynamics influenced by the race outcome. He noted the shifts in playoff points and the opportunity to build momentum at upcoming events.
“Yeah, we got Alex (Bowman) in, so that’s good. I think Ryan (Blaney) jumped us in points and so did Kyle (Larson), so unfortunately, we lost a couple of playoff points there. But nonetheless, it was still good to get a handful and some change (of points). We’ll go to Darlington and try to build on the race we had there in the spring.”
—Chase Elliott, Hendrick Motorsports driver
Elliott’s Recent Victory at EchoPark Speedway Ends His Winless Streak
Chase Elliott broke his winless streak by capturing a victory at the EchoPark Speedway in Atlanta, marking his first and only win of the season to date. The race was intense, featuring 46 lead changes involving 13 drivers and multiple crashes, but Elliott skillfully led for 41 laps and made a decisive last-lap pass on Brad Keselowski to claim the win. This achievement also allowed Elliott to extend his family legacy, as his father Bill Elliott has previously won five times at this track.
Following the victory, Elliott shared his thoughts on the race’s closing moments and the assistance he received from Alex Bowman.
“Yeah, it was wild. You know, got just a couple really good situations off of four and had a really big shove there and into one. I think I got two for one there with a couple to go that got me by, I forget who, and then the 45 and that got me to third. And I’m not exactly sure what happened, but somehow or another, Alex got to third or got me to second, I’m sorry. And I couldn’t really tell how that happened. And when I saw him in my mirror, I thought, well, you know, that’s better than somebody else.”
—Chase Elliott, Hendrick Motorsports driver
Looking Forward to the Upcoming Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway
Chase Elliott is preparing for the next race, the Cook Out Southern 500 scheduled for Sunday, August 31, at Darlington Raceway. With seven playoff points currently in his favor and a recent win boosting his confidence, Elliott aims to improve his standing and capitalize on the momentum created earlier in the season. Meanwhile, Alex Bowman’s entry as the 16th and final playoff driver signals a tight competition moving forward, with teammates and rivals alike vying for championship success.
