Despite a disappointing finish at the Daytona 500 when a late crash involving Riley Herbst and Brad Keselowski eliminated his chances, Chase Elliott is now focusing on capturing his third Cup Series victory at Atlanta Motor Speedway. With the race approaching this Sunday, Elliott’s confidence is rising thanks to favorable starting position and consistent past performances at the venue.
Strong Starting Spot and History Favor Elliott’s Chances
Qualifying was canceled due to rain, causing the field to be set by the metric system, which places Elliott in the second row to start the race. Over 13 career starts at Atlanta, he holds an average finish of 11.4, and since the 2021 track overhaul, his average improves to 9.14. These statistics position Elliott as one of the top contenders heading into the weekend’s competition.
Adjusting to New Chevrolet Body Amid Ongoing Improvements
As the Chevrolet team debuts an updated body design featuring a larger hood dome, reshaped side panels, and a reworked front grille, Elliott and his crew have focused on refining their approach to adapt to the changes. Speaking before the race, Elliott emphasized ongoing efforts to enhance their car’s balance and performance following Daytona.
“Throughout the race, I thought there were some things that we could improve upon.”
?Chase Elliott, Driver
“So, certainly, I think we challenged all of our guys to try and find a little bit that we could use to make some of those things better for this week,”
he said.
“But there were some high spots. Whichever side of that scenario you were on, whether you were getting pushed or doing the pushing, I thought that we did a better job of that more efficiently, which has been an area of emphasis that we wanted to improve with this new body change.”
“I think from now, it’s just like, okay, how do we fine-tune our balances and get everything exactly like we want… So, hopefully we can continue to process all those small details and just make it a bit better, which I think we will,”
he added.
Mastering Drafting Skills Vital for Atlanta Success
Elliott highlighted the importance of effective pushing techniques and trust between drivers on drafting tracks like Atlanta. At Daytona, a final-lap surge fueled by a push from Zane Smith allowed Elliott to join the battle for victory missing only the finish due to the crash. This critical dynamic will remain a focal point as Elliott aims to capitalize on timing and collaboration to secure a win.
Implications for Elliott and the Hendrick Motorsports Team
The developments around the new Chevrolet body and Elliott’s steady improvements underscore Hendrick Motorsports’ strategic push to find performance gains early in the season. Success at Atlanta could signal that the team is adapting well to changes and positioned to contend strongly for the championship. For Elliott, converting this momentum into a victory at his home track would reinforce his status as a leading title contender.
