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Chase Elliott Tames Talladega, Advances to Round of 8

Chase Elliott mastered Bill Elliott's NASCAR Challenge, except in real life. (Photo: Riley Thompson | The Podium Finish)

Chase Elliott mastered Bill Elliott’s NASCAR Challenge, except in real life. (Photo: Riley Thompson | The Podium Finish)

LINCOLN, Ala. – Following a tough start to the Round of 12 at Texas Motor Speedway, Chase Elliott looked to start anew for Sunday’s YellaWood 500 at Talladega Superspeedway.

The 26-year-old from Dawsonville, Georgia had his work cut out for him as he rolled off from the 16th starting spot. However, the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series champion won the 2019 spring race, a feat that was not lost with the popular driver.

It was evident how Elliott had another fast No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevy Camaro unloaded from his hauler. Despite a somewhat subpar qualifying effort, the formidable Hendrick Motorsports racer spoke softly and carried a big heavy foot at the 2.66-mile superspeedway.

Immediately, Elliott jostled his way to a third place result before a masterclass Stage 2 win, scooting past his teammate, Kyle Larson, just before the stripe.

Although Elliott led on four occasions for 10 laps, it was a patient, confident approach that proved beneficial in a relatively smooth race at Talladega.

Elliott confidently contended for the win all race long. (Photo: Riley Thompson | The Podium Finish)

Elliott confidently contended for the win all race long. (Photo: Riley Thompson | The Podium Finish)

Committing to the inside line, Elliott worked his way back inside the top 10 within the final 10 laps. Upon the race’s final restart on Lap 187, Elliott, who was in sixth, made his way toward the front, jockeying for valuable real estate faster than a Monday morning rush hour commuter.

Drawing even across with leader Ryan Blaney on the final lap, Elliott had a late race ally in Erik Jones, the latter giving the Playoff contender some hardy drafting assistance.

In the end, it proved insurmountable for the competition as Elliott bested Blaney and 2021 Daytona 500 champion, Michael McDowell, to the stripe.

Sure, the summer blockbuster, Top Gun: Maverick, is now available in homes. That said, Elliott looked like Pete “Maverick” Mitchell in an aerial dogfight, except he did not have to ask about the status of Goose.

After the customary burnout near the stripe, Elliott soaked in his fifth win of 2022.

“Yeah, first, how about these fans, man? That’s unreal,” Elliott said to the Talladega faithful. “Moments like that, you have to really cherish. You guys are what makes this special to me, so thank you sincerely. I really appreciate it.”

While legendary stock car racer Jimmy Spencer claimed that he never forgot what happened on the track, Elliott could profess the same, especially as he described the final laps leading to his latest victory.

“Yeah, it was a wild last couple laps. I wasn’t super crazy about being on the bottom,” he recalled. “Fortunately, I got just clear enough off of (Turn) 2 to slide up in front of Erik.

“He gave me some great shoves. Obviously, a Team Chevy partner there. Just had a good enough run to get out front and then I was able to stay far enough in front of Ryan here at the line to get it done.”

Surely, passing was at a premium at Talladega given the close competition and small margin for error.

Sunday’s race may be about the sweetest win for Elliott and his team, particularly with Rick Hendrick and Jeff Gordon on-site.

“These things are so, so hard to win. You have to enjoy them,” he remarked. “Just appreciate everybody’s effort today. NAPA, Chevrolet, all of our partners that make this happen.

“Everybody at Hendrick Motorsports, the engine shop. The boss is here, so excited to celebrate with him; get ready to go to the ROVAL and try to grab another one.”

Crew chief Alan Gustafson understood some of the challenges that Elliott faced in the driver’s seat. The customary middle lane was nearly nonexistent, an intangible that puzzled the veteran team leader.

Gustafson enjoyed his second Talladega Cup win. (Photo: Riley Thompson | The Podium Finish)

Gustafson enjoyed his second Talladega Cup win. (Photo: Riley Thompson | The Podium Finish)

“It seems like kind of both the races were before it. I don’t know if maybe the stability of the car or it was just hard,” Gustafson shared. “We’ve seen it all year, it’s not three lanes that don’t seem to work out.

“There doesn’t seem to be a middle option. It doesn’t get fanned out. It’s kind of about staying in line, pushing. I think that contributes.”

Still, Gustafson expressed some relief that the typical Talladega mayhem was at minimum.

“Yeah, it was certainly a bit tamer than I expected,” he said. “I kind of expected maybe not the typical four-wide just craziness. The cars don’t seem to generate the performance, the huge runs. It’s more about that steady seesaw momentum.”

Going beyond the energy and timing of passes, Elliott understood what his fifth win of 2022 meant.

Instead of sweating a bit for next Sunday’s Bank of America ROVAL 400 at Charlotte (2 p.m. ET on NBC), Elliott can be on the offense for the next few Playoffs races.

Perhaps Elliott is truly the new pied piper. (Photo: Riley Thompson | The Podium Finish)

Perhaps Elliott is truly the new pied piper. (Photo: Riley Thompson | The Podium Finish)

“It gets you through the next one. That’s all you can ask for… to have more opportunities,” he stated. “That’s really what this is about. We got six more Playoff points to go with that win today. That’s a big deal.

“We’re excited for these final handful of events. Hopefully we can make it out to Phoenix and give them a run.”

Stage 1 Top 10 Finishers

Blaney-Hamlin-Elliott-Cindric-Logano/Stenhouse Jr.-Ky. Busch-Larson-Gragson-E. Jones

Stage 2 Top 10 Finishers

Elliott-Haley-Larson-Suárez-E. Jones/Chastain-Cassill-Buescher-Hemric-Briscoe

YellaWood 500 at Talladega Top 10 Finishers

Elliott-Blaney-McDowell-Chastain-Hamlin/E. Jones-Gilliland-Suárez-Cindric-Briscoe

Rob Tiongson is a 30-something motorsports journalist who enjoys sports like baseball, basketball, football, soccer, track and field and hockey. A Boston native turned Austinite, racing was the first sport that caught his eyes. From interviews to retrospective articles, if it's about anything with an engine and four wheels, it'll be here on TPF, by him or by one of his talented columnists who have a passion for racing. Currently seeking a sports writing, public relations, or sports marketing career, particularly in motorsports. He enjoys editing and writing articles and features, as well as photography. Moreover, he enjoys time with his family and friends, traveling, cooking, working out and being a fun uncle or "funcle" to his nephew, niece and cat. Tiongson, a graduate of Southern New Hampshire University with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication, pursues his Master of Arts in Digital Journalism at St. Bonaventure University. Indeed, while Tiongson is proud to be from Massachusetts, he's an everywhere kind of man residing in Texas.

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