Hendrick Motorsport’s star Chase Elliott shows up in Delaware in a perfect mindset to defend his victory from last year’s Dover Playoff race. He hoisted a trophy last Sunday after winning at the Charlotte Motor Speedway ROVAL – the final race of the Playoff’s opening round.
The driver of the No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 opens the Round of 12 on a positive note at one of his best tracks, statistically speaking. In seven Dover starts, Elliott has one win and six top fives. His “worst” showing at the track is 12th. He won this October Playoff race last year and in May, won the pole position, led the most laps (145) and finished fifth.
His average finish at the “Monster Mile” is 4.4. Only 11-time Dover winner Jimmie Johnson (113.3) has a better Driver Rating than Elliott’s (108.3). In addition to his win last year, Elliott was runner-up in 2017’s Playoff race and finished third in his first two races at the track in the 2016 season.
Some drivers believe in momentum, whether or not Elliott does, the 23-year old has plenty of it. His victory at Charlotte last Sunday was his third on the year. Interestingly, 10 of his 13 top-10 finishes are actually top-5 finishes. He’s finished in the top-10 in six of the last eight races, including a win from pole position at Watkins Glen.
The good vibes aren’t limited to Delaware either. Elliott has won at both the other tracks in this round of the Playoffs. He won at next week’s Talladega Superspeedway earlier this season and is the defending Playoff race winner at Kansas Speedway, where the series races Oct. 20 and four more drivers will be eliminated from postseason contention.
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