CONCORD, N.C. -- Hendrick Motorsports will make its way to Watkins Glen International this Sunday, and Chase Elliott and the No. 9 team are ready to race hard and take home the team’s third consecutive win at the 2.45-mile venue.
Elliott, who has a history of strong performances at Watkins Glen, is eager to return to the place where he notched his first win in the NASCAR Cup Series in August 2018. The 25-year-old driver has two wins and has led 141 of the 360 laps he has completed across his four NASCAR Cup Series starts at the New York track.
“(I’m) just excited to go back, I’m looking forward to the challenge,” Elliott said. “Every time you go back to the track, it’s always going to be tough. As I have said many times before, past success doesn’t equal future success, and I don’t think that is any different this weekend. I anticipate everybody else will be better than they were last time we were up there and we make sure we try to match it, and then some, to have another shot.”
Elliott and No. 9 crew chief Alan Gustafson know that their history of success at road courses only provides a certain level of confidence and they cannot be too comfortable when race day arrives. The duo works together to plan and prepare for the event in hopes of securing the Elliott’s third consecutive win at the track.
“I try not to pay attention to any of the talk, positive or negative, and let that influence me,” Gustafson explained. “That’s personally how I handle it, and I try to lead by example for my guys and what we have accomplished in the past is great and we are super proud of that, but it’s ultimately not going to do much for us this weekend besides us knowing the lessons we have learned racing there and being successful.”
In a season that has had its challenges from the COVID-19 pandemic to the daunting task of getting ready for the NextGen car in 2022, Gustafson and his team has kept their eyes forward and honing in on making the most of what Hendrick Motorsports can do in the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series season.
“For us, it’s all just about us focusing on what we can do to be the best we can, and I feel like if we are at our best, then certainly we are competitive to win races and championships,” Gustafson said. “To me, it’s always really been about Hendrick Motorsports optimizing what we can control, and (team owner) Mr. (Rick) Hendrick gives us the resources and Chevrolet and all our partners give us what we need to win. It is just up to us to optimize it and do what we can internally to be the best we can. If we can do that, then regardless of what goes on around us, we are going to be in good shape.”
Be sure to tune in this Sunday at 3 p.m. ET on NBCSN to catch Elliott, Gustafson and the rest of the Hendrick Motorsports teams in action as they try to take home the organization’s 11th win of the year at Watkins Glen.