Return of An Xfinity Champ

By Tom Luttermoser. Image Via NASCAR.com

2014 marks Chase Elliott's first national series championship. In 2014 He ran the #9 for JR Motorsports where he won the title along with 3 races in his rookie season for Dale Jr & his sister Kelly. You also have to go back to Daytona 2016 to find Elliott's last win in the series despite running 15 races since. You also have to go back to last years 2021 Pennzoil 150 at the Indy Road Course to find Chase's last entry in the series where he finished 4th. Tomorrow's Mahindra ROXOR 200 at Richmond markst the first entry for the Xfinity Series for Chase

Chase has a very respectable average Xfinity finish of 9.4 since that last win in 2016. He also, has won himself a Cup Series title 2 CW Truck Series races and 14 Cup Races since then as well. 

Chase has only 1 Darlington victory in the Xfinity Series and you cannot say the same with the Truck or Cup series. He has a best finish of 4th at the Track Too Tough to Tame in the Cup Series back in the 1st race back Post Covid. Since then he has only finished P. 38, 20, 7, 31 respectively in Hendrick Cup equipment.

The 88 car of JR motorsports has to go back to Dale Jr himself and Richmond 2016 to find it's last victory since being removed from the JRM full time roster and Chase was last in the ride at Daytona in 2018. The team hasn't seen a slew of success since 2009 with future Cup Champion Brad Keselowski behind the wheel. The car has not had spectacular performances since going part-time with it's best finish being 4th with none other than Jr behind the wheel at Richmond again. 

Chase will have a tough field to conquer tomorrow with previous winners such as Brandon Jones and last years winners (his teammates) Justin Allgaier & Noah Gragson. This has not been a spectacular track for Chase but he is in the car to get it done in my opinion.