Hendrick Motorsports has announced an unexpected addition to Chase Elliott‘s racing schedule for the upcoming weekend at Pocono Raceway, as he will compete in both the NASCAR Cup Series and the Xfinity Series on June 16. This decision marks Elliott’s commitment to the demanding tri-oval track, as he seeks to sharpen his performance through increased race experience.
Earlier this season, Elliott ran an Xfinity Series event at Darlington Raceway, finishing second despite early damage to his car, underlining his strategic approach to prepare for difficult tracks. Given that he won Pocono’s first Cup race in the Next Gen era in 2022, this double duty could give him a competitive edge this weekend.
NASCAR analyst Bob Pockrass shared the news via social media, highlighting that the Xfinity race appearance was not initially part of the team’s plan.
“Chase Elliott to drive Xfinity race at Pocono. It wasn’t on the team’s original schedule,” —Bob Pockrass, NASCAR analyst
Recent Performance and Standings Ahead of Pocono Weekend
Chase Elliott recently secured a podium finish by placing third at NASCAR’s inaugural Cup race held outside the U.S. at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez in Mexico City. Starting outside the top ten, Elliott battled hard throughout the race but was ultimately unable to challenge Trackhouse Racing’s Shane Van Gisbergen, who dominated the event. Christopher Bell finished second, 16 seconds behind Van Gisbergen.
Despite showing strong potential, Elliott has yet to claim a win this season or secure a guaranteed spot in the playoffs. Currently, he sits fourth in the championship standings with 500 points, trailing his Hendrick Motorsports teammate and points leader William Byron by 104 points.
Chase Elliott Discusses the Challenges of the Mexico City Race
Reflecting on his performance in Mexico City, Elliott described a race filled with ups and downs. Early contact with Ty Dillon during Stage 2 sent Elliott to the back of the pack, finishing 23rd in that segment. However, he relentlessly advanced through the field, breaking into the top five by lap 77, and eventually passing teammate Alex Bowman for third place in the closing laps.
Addressing the media after the race, Elliott said,
“I felt like we were in a really good spot….I thought, to be honest, that was going to be the race for the win there initially,” —Chase Elliott, Hendrick Motorsports driver
“We were kind of up and down all day and finally got going there a few runs from the end and Al made us a good call to get us on tires. Finally had a restart go halfway decent and got a decent top 3 out of it,” —Chase Elliott, Hendrick Motorsports driver
Elliott added that the final restart was physically demanding as he passed notable competitors John Hunter Nemechek and Ross Chastain, but traffic late in the race hindered his ability to contend for victory.
Potential Impact of Elliott’s Xfinity Participation at Pocono
Chase Elliott’s decision to drive in both series this weekend may provide him with valuable track time on Pocono Raceway’s challenging tri-oval, allowing him to refine his car setup and race strategies. Given his past success at this venue and the importance of securing a playoff spot, this move demonstrates Hendrick Motorsports’ focus on maximizing Elliott’s performance during a crucial stage of the season.
With intense competition among top drivers, this approach could help Elliott narrow the points gap to William Byron and improve his prospects ahead of the NASCAR playoffs, making the weekend at Pocono pivotal for his championship aspirations.
