His car didn’t roll down the front stretch while he was standing on it this time, but Chase Elliott repeated his last performance at the Charlotte Roval by winning the annual race for the second time in a row.
There isn’t a better road course ringer in NASCAR, right now, than the driver of the No. 9. The team has captured an unprecedented four-straight road course victories stretching back to last season at Watkins Glen.
The only driver who has accomplished the feat in NASCAR’s history was Jeff Gordon – who won six straight at road course events from 1997-2000.
Today’s victory is Elliott’s third of the season, matching his career high set in each of the past two seasons, and gives the young gun five extra playoff points to play with as the third round starts next week.
The win also means that the four drivers facing elimination from the playoffs didn’t get the result they needed to keep their seasons going.
Defending NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Busch was among the group, meaning that is now the earliest that a defending champ has been axed from the title race before the third round.
Other drivers among the four eliminations included Austin Dillon, Clint Bowyer, and Aric Almirola.
The third round of the NASCAR Playoffs kicks off at 1:30 p.m. on NBC next Sunday, October 18, at Kansas Speedway.
NASCAR Playoffs Standings
Ahead of the Semifinal round
1. Kevin Harvick – 4,067
2. Denny Hamlin – 4,054
3. Brad Keselowski – 4,035
4. Chase Elliott – 4,027
5. Joey Logano – 4,022
6. Martin Truex Jr. – 4,017
7. Alex Bowman – 4,009
8. Kurt Busch – 4,006
