The NASCAR playoffs Round of 16 concluded on Saturday night at Bristol Motor Speedway where Chase Elliott garnered a seventh-place finish in the 500-lap event. In the three races of the round, the driver of the No. 9 collected the most stage points (35) and had the best average running position (5.37) of all drivers. Elliott led a total of 139 laps and picked up one top-five finish and two top-10s in the three events.
PLAYOFFS CONTINUE: For the fifth consecutive NASCAR Cup Series season, Elliott has advanced to the Round of 12 of the playoffs. Of the three tracks in the second round (Las Vegas, Talladega, Charlotte road course), Elliott has won at both Talladega and the Charlotte road course.
UNIFIRST TAKES VEGAS: On Sunday, UniFirst Corporation (NYSE: UNF), a North American leader in providing customized work uniform programs, corporate attire and facility service products, will serve as the primary sponsor for Elliott and the No. 9 team. It will be the final race of the season that UniFirst will be the primary partner and have its updated green corporate logo adorning the No. 9 Chevrolet. In 2016, Hendrick Motorsports and UniFirst announced an eight-year partnership. UniFirst is the Official Workwear Provider of Hendrick Motorsports, supplying work clothing and uniforms to the team and sister company Hendrick Automotive Group, which is the largest privately held retail automotive organization in the United States. Most recently, it was onboard for Elliott’s All-Star Race win at Bristol Motor Speedway in July.
LAST 10: Over the last 10 races in the 2020 season, Elliott is tied for the most top-10 finishes (eight) in those events. He also won at the DAYTONA Road Course, posted four top-five results and led a total of 218 laps in the last 10 races.
ELLIOTT THROUGH 29: In 29 starts in 2020, Elliott has accumulated career bests in laps led (669), runner-up results (three), top-five finishes (11), stage points (235) and stage wins (seven). His 17 top-10s are tied for a personal best and his two wins are the second most for him at the 29-race mark.
LAS VEGAS STATS: On Sunday, Elliott is set to make his eighth NASCAR Cup Series start at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. In his previous seven starts, he has collected two top-five finishes and three top-10s. Earlier this season at the 1.5-mile track, Elliott led 70 laps and won both Stage 1 and Stage 2. Unfortunately, a flat left-rear tire sent him into the wall, causing enough damage to put him a lap down and ultimately finished 26th.
RIDING WITH ELLIOTT: This weekend at Las Vegas, Elliott will have a special moniker featured on his No. 9 UniFirst Chevrolet. Dr. David Elkowitz’s name will be over the driver’s door as part of the Martin Truex Jr. Foundation and NASCAR Foundation’s initiative to showcase those who have fought bravely against cancer. Dr. Elkowitz hails from Smithtown, New York, and was nominated by his wife Stephanie. A die-hard Hendrick Motorsports fan, Dr. Elkowitz continued teaching his medical students at Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell despite undergoing 12 weeks of intense chemotherapy.
1.5-MILE STATS: Chase Elliott will make his 54th start on a 1.5-mile track this weekend as Las Vegas Motor Speedway. In his previous 53 starts on the same track length, he has led 617 laps. The Dawsonville, Georgia, native scored his first 1.5-mile track win in October 2018 at Kansas Speedway and most recently won at Charlotte on May 27. Along with those wins, Elliott has collected 18 top-five finishes – five of which are runner-up results – and 28 top-10s on 1.5-mile tracks. So far in 2020 on 1.5-milers, he has led a career best in laps led (189).
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