HAMPTON, Ga. - It’s been almost a week since Chase Elliott had a near miss on his first career Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series win in the Daytona 500, but that doesn’t mean the disappointment has faded.
However, the Dawsonville, Georgia speedster has his eyes firmly set on the future – namely, this weekend’s race at his home track, Atlanta Motor Speedway, where he’ll roll off from the 11th starting spot on Sunday.
“There are two things, I think, to look at when you think about Daytona for us,” Elliott said on Friday. “A – We had to play the cards we were dealt. I felt like we planned to the best of our ability. I think that is something to be proud of. B – We ran out of gas. Yes, we were leading and it’s easy to say ‘ah it was ours to lose’. In reality there were still three laps to do and three laps at Daytona is a long time.
“So, I think for us to sit back and think that we had it locked down is kind of foolish. For us, it’s disappointing for sure, but there are some positives to take from the day and again, we were faced with circumstances that we really couldn’t control and I felt like we played what we had the best we could. Some days that is all you can do.”
Elliott now has to focus on the second race of the season, Sunday’s Folds of Honor Quik Trip 500. He also has to work with a new tire rule that could see several teams take a conservative approach.
Elliott, however, doesn’t think that will be the case.
“I think the big thing is just trying to hit your laps,” he said. “Ideally, you want to make three laps in qualifying. You want to try to get yourself into the top 24 and then the top 12 and then make a run at the pole. I think if you mess up in a round, it’s going to be really hard pressed to be able to run again and have a realistic expectation of having a shot at the pole. I think it’s real important to hit on that first try.”
Elliott came into this race last year as a rookie. Now he can face Sunday’s 500 miles event with a full season under his belt. But, he’s quick to point out there are still things he hasn’t faced on the track yet.
“Of those things that we have seen, I feel good about and I feel great about our team. I think we made some good chances over the off season. I feel like everybody’s moving in a positive direction and I feel like I’m just kind of real proud and happy to be where I am. I think we are in a good position as a group and I think all of our guys are working well together and at this point in the season that is kind of all you can ask for until you get started and kind of see what you are missing and where you need to go.”
The weekend’s off to a good start for Elliott. Along with a strong run in Cup qualifying, he led Friday’s final practice for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series with a lap at 179.557 in the GMS Racing No. 23 Chevy.
Winning Daytona Means Busy Schedule For Busch
When Kurt Busch climbed out of his No. 41 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford in victory lane last week at Daytona International Speedway, he had put in a hard day’s work in winning the Daytona 500.
But the work for the 2004 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series champion was just beginning, as the past week has been a whirlwind of interviews and appearances.
On Friday morning, Busch said he had lost track of them by this point.
“Years ago when I won the championship you look at it and think, ‘Oh man, there is a lot that goes with this.’ Maybe you don’t soak it all in, but this time around my phone is like 400 texts deep and I can’t get caught up. All the shows, interviews and moments, I am trying to soak it all in and feel everything I can.”
Busch said that winning the Daytona 500 is an important achievement on its own, but it also means that some of the pressure is off as far as making your way into the playoffs at the end of the year.
“It is an incredible feeling to win the Daytona 500 but it comes with a piece of mind to know that you are a race winner in 2017 and you have five bonus points that we will carry with us all through the playoffs and it gives you that motivation to go out there and win these different stages and get those bonus points and to get race wins. It also gives you a sense of calm that if you have a bad race there is no huge issue.
“Today, there is a lot of anxiety with the crew chiefs with cars getting through tech inspection in time to be able to qualify. Since it is a new procedure and new process we are as focused and for us on the 41 car we have some wiggle room with things. It is neat to have that sense of security as our foundation for the 2017 season.”
And how did it feel to score a win in the “Great American Race” before his brother, fellow driver Kyle Busch?
“We have plenty of moments to dispute between the two of us,” Kurt said. “He can immediately rebuttal that he’s that he’s won at Indianapolis. That is a huge win in our sport, to win at the Brickyard. Yes, I have a little bit of a slight edge right now because of the buzz and energy that comes with winning at Daytona and it’s 2017. But over the years he’s done an incredible job becoming his own driver with the statistics and everything that he’s done in the Cup Series, Xfinity, and Truck Series.
“And even as an owner, I’m very proud of him for what he’s done as an owner in the NASCAR series. In the Truck Series, especially with this farm system. Finding these drivers, Kyle right now is the best talent scout out there. To race with him in the Xfinity Series and win that race in Richmond a few years ago, that was a big brother moment. So I think that the more time goes by as well as stats that we’re able to achieve add up, the two of us are getting closer instead of farther apart as we go through life in racing.”
Jimmie Johnson Looking For Third Straight AMS Win
Jimmie Johnson has scored wins in the past two Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series races at Atlanta Motor Speedway, finding a way to best the worn out, challenging asphalt surface at the Georgia speedplant.
But Sunday marks the final race before the 1.5 mile raceway is treated to a fresh coat of asphalt.
“This track is so fun and so interesting and so challenging, I hate that it’s our last run on this asphalt,” Johnson said on Friday. “But, the practice session didn’t disappoint. It still threw plenty of challenges at the teams and certainly ours. We are learning as we go here with this new package, start of a new season. I’m ready to go collect some points and get some wins.”
It’s not just Johnson’s Atlanta win streak on the line this weekend. Hendrick Motorsports has won the last three straight, dating back to 2014 when Kasey Kahne scored the victory. Johnson would like to be the one to extend that streak to four.
“Yeah it’s been a great track for me really when I look back over my career and when I think of Hendrick related race cars and success from (Jerry) Nadeau running well here,” said Johnson. “Jeff (Gordon) has obviously always been amazing here. Kahne, it has been a good track for (Dale Earnhardt) Junior over the years. It is a good track for all of us.
“I can say the last two races we have won here we didn’t really get our stuff situated until late in the going and been able to come out on top. Just because you might have a slow Friday or a slow start to the race I don’t think you can count anybody out. We have a lot of chances to work on the car and can make stuff happen here, which is really neat.”
WDUN will have live PRN Radio coverage of this weekend's NASCAR action from the Atlanta Motor Speedway, beginning with Saturday's NASCAR Xfinity Series Rinnai 250 at 1:30 PM on 102.9 FM. On Sunday, it's the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Folds of Honor Quick Trip 500 beginning at 1:30 pm on 102.9 FM and AM 550.
