DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – For the second consecutive year, Chase Elliott has found Victory Lane in a Duel at Daytona International Speedway.
In the second Duel Thursday night, Elliott took the lead on Lap 27, leading the final 33 laps of the race to capture the win.
“Our NAPA Camaro ZL1 was really fast tonight,” Elliott said. “Just a big thanks to everybody at Hendrick Motorsports. The Hendrick engine shop does a great job and we had a lot of steam tonight. Really proud of (No. 9 team crew chief) Alan (Gustafson) and our entire group.”
It marked Hendrick Motorsports’ 15th Duel win, tying Richard Childress Racing for the most all-time. The organization has won at least one Duel in each of the last four years.
The victory secured a fourth-place starting position for Elliott in the Daytona 500.
“Thanks to Chase Elliott for delivering the first win for Camaro ZL1 in the No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts Camaro ZL1,” said Jim Campbell, Chevrolet vice president of performance vehicles and motorsports. “That’s a great start, and puts another Chevrolet in the first two rows for the start of the Daytona 500.”
And the Daytona 500 is exactly what Elliott had his sights set on while celebrating Thursday night's win in Victory Lane.
“We’ve got the big one to go on Sunday,” the driver said. “That’s the main thing.”
Below is a closer look at how Elliott earned the victory in the second Duel Thursday evening.
CHASE ELLIOTT, NO. 9 NAPA AUTO PARTS CHEVROLET CAMARO ZL1
FINISHED: 1st
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- The lone Hendrick Motorsports driver in the second Duel, Elliott started fifth and maintained his top-10 position up to the first caution of the race.
- During the caution, he headed to pit road for four tires, giving him an advantage over many of his competitors who took two or fewer tires.
- On Lap 23, he found the top five once again, moving up to second one lap later.
- On Lap 27, he took the lead for the first time and never relinquished it, leading the final 33 laps to win the Duel.
- Holding off several late charges to secure the win, Elliott will now start Sunday’s Daytona 500 in fourth.