MIAMI MAKES 50: Chase Elliott will make his 50th start on a 1.5-mile track on Sunday at Homestead-Miami Speedway. In his previous 49 races, he has led 590 laps and most recently scored his second career 1.5-mile track win at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 28. Along with two victories, Elliott has collected 17 top-five finishes – four of which are runner-up results – and 27 top-10s on 1.5-milers.
SHOWING THE WAY: Through 11 races in 2020, Elliott has racked up some impressive numbers. The driver of the No. 9 Hooters Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE sits third in the 2020 NASCAR Cup standings and has the top average running position in the series at 6.8. He has posted one win and seven top-10 finishes, which are both tied for his most through 11 races in a season. Elliott’s five top-five finishes, 395 laps led and five stage wins are all personal records through 11 events.
CHASING CHASE: The No. 9 Chevrolet has been a familiar sight at the front of the field in 2020. Elliott has led laps in nine of 11 NASCAR Cup Series events this season, tying him with Brad Keselowski and Joey Logano for the most races led. Elliott has led laps in each of the last six events, matching Logano for the longest active streak. If he leads at least one lap on Sunday at Homestead, Elliott will tie his career best of seven consecutive races led.
TOP-TENNING 1.0: Homestead-Miami Speedway is one of eight NASCAR Cup Series racetracks where Elliott averages a top-10 finish. In four career starts there, the 24-year-old driver has an average result of 9.5, which is second all-time behind Kevin Harvick. Elliott has never finished worse than 15th at the venue.
TOP-TENNING 2.0: Elliott has posted three consecutive top-10 finishes at 1.5-mile tracks, which is tied for the third-longest current streak in the NASCAR Cup Series and the second-longest ever for the fifth-year driver. In addition to his May 28 win on the Charlotte Motor Speedway oval, the Dawsonville, Georgia, native finished second at Charlotte on May 24 and eighth at his home track of Atlanta Motor Speedway on June 7. Across 2017 and 2018, he posted a personal record of seven straight top-10s at 1.5-mile tracks.
PAPERCLIP REWIND: Elliott and the No. 9 team ran inside the top 10 all race at Martinsville Speedway en route to a fifth-place finish on Wednesday night. It was his his fifth top-five result of the season – a career best through 11 events.
GUSTAFSON AT HOMESTEAD: This weekend, No. 9 team crew chief Alan Gustafson will call his 16th Homestead-Miami Speedway race from atop the pit box. In his previous 15 events at the venue, Gustafson has collected one win (2012 with Jeff Gordon), three top-five finishes, seven top-10s and 220 laps led. The Ormond Beach, Florida, native also started from the pole position in 2014 with Gordon.
WELCOME BACK, HOOTERS: This weekend at Homestead-Miami Speedway, Hooters will make its 2020 season debut on the No. 9 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE with the “Night Owl” paint scheme. The black and orange design was selected over three other options in an open fan vote on Hooters.com. A casual dining establishment with a deep history in NASCAR, the Atlanta-based company will be a three-race primary sponsor of the No. 9 team this year. Elliott will also pilot the No. 9 Hooters Chevrolet later this season at Daytona International Speedway and in the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs at Texas Motor Speedway.
WCWYW IS BACK: For the fourth year, Hooters’ “When Chase Wins, You Win” promotion has returned. Hooters will give fans 10 free boneless wings with the purchase of any 10 wings any time Elliott wins a Cup Series race. In addition, if he finishes in the top 10, fans can receive one free order of fried pickles with a beverage purchase. All promotions will be eligible the Monday after a race at participating Hooters locations when guests mention the deal to their server. For more information, visit hooters.com/racing.
DOING THE DOUBLE: In addition to piloting the No. 9 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE in the Cup Series, Elliott will compete in the NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series race in the No. 24 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet for GMS Racing on Saturday at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Elliott has piloted the No. 24 Silverado twice in 2020: on May 26 at Charlotte, where he led 47 laps and won, and on June 6 at Atlanta, where he was running in the top five when he had a tire go down, relegating him to a 21st-place finish.
DESI9N TO DRIVE: As part of the Chase Elliott Foundation’s fourth annual “DESI9N TO DRIVE” art collaboration with Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Elliott and his three Hendrick Motorsports teammates wore patient-designed racing shoes during the race last weekend at Atlanta Motor Speedway. All four pairs of shoes have been autographed and are currently being auctioned at the NASCAR Foundation online auction site with proceeds benefiting the hospital’s summer camp program. The auction ends on Sunday night at 9 p.m. ET. In addition, the Chase Elliott Foundation will match the proceeds from the “DESI9N TO DRIVE” program and make a separate donation to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta’s COVID-19 fund that helps provide support, supplies and equipment for its most fragile patients and frontline workers.
BEHIND THE 9: Gustafson is trying his hand as a host in a new Hendrick Motorsports video series called “Behind the 9” in which he interviews each member of the No. 9 crew. Fans can learn about where they came from and the role they serve on the team, with each bringing a unique personality and skillset. Episodes are released every Tuesday on the Hendrick Motorsports Facebook page and YouTube channel. The most recent episode features engine tuner Tony Bove. |