DAYTONA, Fla. — Chase Elliott understands the value of starting strong. But the Dawsonville native is more interested in how he finishes at Sunday’s Daytona 500.
The field will begin qualifying Wednesday night for the opening race of the 2024 NASCAR Cup season.
Elliott was more than clear on his goals coming into qualifying when asked if there was a give-and-take on qualifying high versus positioning to win the race.
“(Winning) poles are great. But I want to be good on Sunday. I want to win the race,” he said. “But I think we can do both.”
He has shown he knows how to win the pole after securing the front position at Daytona in both 2016 and 2017. However, no one has won the 500 from the pole position since Dale Jarrett back in 2000. Only nine times has it ever been done, but two of those came from Elliott’s father, Bill, in 1985 and 1987.
Eliott said the real credit in winning a pole lies in the garage.
“To me, it’s a testament to the guys at the shop in the engine department, and to all of the staff for the work put in more so than what the drivers are doing,” he said. “We’re not really doing a whole lot to contribute to that. That, to me, is where the recognition deserves to be, and that’s where I’ve always tried to lead it when it was me that had won a couple of poles.”
As part of the Hendrick MotorSports team, Elliott also will be looking to end a 10-year drought for HMS in the winner’s circle at Daytona. He also understands that it takes more than skill to snag the checkered flag at Daytona.
“It’s a hard race to win. You have to have quite a few things go your way,” he said. “Unfortunately for HMS, it’s just been a while, but I think it’ll come back around.”
