Chase Elliott about to lead the field during Duel No. 1 at Daytona International Speedway on Thursday, February 13, 2025. (Photo: Donald Jenney | The Podium Finish)
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – In 1987, NASCAR legend Bill Elliott won the Clash, then the Daytona 500 one week later. Fast forward nearly 40 years and his son, Chase Elliott, hopes to repeat his father’s early season success.
Elliott commanded the 200-lap Clash at the historic Bowman Gray Stadium just two weeks ago. Although the two tracks are vastly different, the Hendrick Motorsports No. 9 team put together solid cars for both the Clash and the Daytona 500.
Thursday night’s Duel No. 1 was action-packed; much more so than anyone anticipated. Elliott showed great speed and managed to lead some laps, ending the event in eighth place. The top 10 finish placed him in the 17th starting position for the Daytona 500 on Sunday.
The No. 9 NAPA Chevrolet continued its momentum on Friday, closing out a rain-shortened practice session in second place on the time sheets. The final practice session for the Cup Series took place on Saturday afternoon, but Elliott’s team elected not to participate.
Chase Elliott and the No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports NAPA Chevrolet running in group practice at Daytona on Friday. (Photo: Donald Jenney | The Podium Finish)
Despite not having a Daytona 500 victory under his belt, Elliott has had great success in the 500-mile season opener, especially for a young driver. He stands as the youngest-ever polesitter of the race, leading the field to the green flag in 2016 at the age of 20. Elliott also won Duel races in 2017 and 2018, both of which took place at Daytona International Speedway. His best finish in the 500 was second place in 2021, behind a very ecstatic Michael McDowell as the race winner.
Daytona has showcased many underdog winners, including McDowell in 2021 and Trevor Bayne in 2011, to name a couple. The race comes down to a lot more than raw talent or experience. Fuel strategy plays a vital role on the 2.5-mile superspeedway. It may seem as though the drivers have their gas pedals to the floor the entire time, but there is a lot more to racing at Daytona than that. A successful fuel strategy can be the difference between holding the checkered flag and watching the win slip away.
Chase Elliott out front in Duel No. 1 at Daytona. (Photo: Donald Jenney | The Podium Finish)
“They run up front, you know, and next thing you know, you get a caution and all those guys that have been saving are screwed,” Elliott said in an interview with Dale Jr.’s Dirty Mo Media podcast. “You’ve given up your track position. Well now, everybody’s pitting at the same time and now you’re just last.
“It’s a fine line to balance. You can look like a hero either way.”
Starting 17th may not be the most ideal situation, but the Daytona 500 is known for crazy and unforeseen finishes. A mid-field starting position could be the No. 9’s downfall or the key to their success. Elliott will attempt to seize his first Daytona 500 victory on Sunday, February 16th, with the green flag waving at 2:00 PM EST.
