More times than not in NASCAR, the term “wildcard” is associated with the unpredictability of restrictor-plate tracks such as Daytona International Speedway or Talladega Superspeedway. For NAPA AUTO PARTS driver Chase Elliott and the rest of the NASCAR XFINITY Series, the three road courses looming on the schedule this August have also earned “wildcard” status.
Elliott, the reigning NXS champion and driver of the No. 9 Chevrolet for JR Motorsports, will tackle Watkins Glen International (WGI) this weekend. It stands as one of six tracks (Darlington, Homestead, Kansas, Mid-Ohio, Road America and WGI) Elliott has visited only once in his year and a half stint in the series. The four-week outlook for Elliott features three road courses – WGI, Mid-Ohio and Road America – through the next month of NXS competition. Throw in a twilight event at Bristol Motor Speedway and it’s shaping up to be a decisive month for Elliott’s championship hopes.
If statistics are any indication, the No. 9 team should carry confidence into the road-course stretch.
In 2014, Elliott secured an average finish of 4.7 at road courses, outdoing the second-best series regular average of Elliott Sadler who earned a 7.7. Elliott’s ability to successfully navigate the twists and turns of road racing could pay huge dividends in the series points hunt. Only one position removed from the championship lead, Elliott sits 20 points back from leader Chris Buescher with 14 races remaining. Impressively, the 19-year-old is quickly closing ground. Elliott has made up 16 points on the top spot over the last three weeks of NXS competition.
Catch Elliott and the No. 9 NAPA team, who will have the XFINITY camera riding with them Saturday as the NXS race from Watkins Glen International airs at 3 p.m. ET. MRN Radio/Sirius XM NASCAR Ch. 90 will carry the race starting at 2:30 p.m. ET.
JR Motorsports PR
