Chase Elliott on this year's 500: "I sure would like to not wreck"
Chase Elliott has been here before but this time he’s like the story to end a little differently.
Crash: Chase Elliott, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Alexander Trienitz
One year ago, the son of NASCAR Hall of Famer Bill Elliott, claimed the pole for NASCAR’s biggest race, the Daytona 500, but his actual experience in the race turned out not to be that memorable.
One year later, Elliott, fresh of his rookie of the year season in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, will find himself once again leading the Daytona 500 field to green after winning the pole on Sunday.
Elliott, 21, will share the front row in Sunday’s season opener with Hendrick Motorsports teammate, Dale Earnhardt Jr.
“I’m definitely thinking about the race and what we can do to try to improve there. You know, Daytona was certainly a struggle for us last year just as far as getting into wrecks or wrecking and tearing up a lot of cars, so I hope we can just make it to the end of the race next weekend,” Elliott said.
“That’s obviously a huge battle at times, and I think as this race track has worn and the surface gets older, tires are going to mean more, which I think is good for the folks that are sitting in those grandstands across from us and the folks watching on TV.”
Abrupt end to 2016 Daytona 500
Elliott didn’t have long to enjoy his starting position in last year’s season opener.
He appeared to get loose coming off Turn 4 on Lap 19 and cut down in front of Carl Edwards, making slight contact with his car.
Elliott, who had won the Xfinity Series season opener the day before, then slid on the track for several hundred feet before slamming into the infield grass, which caused significant damage to his No. 24 Chevrolet.
He would eventually return to the race but more than 40 laps down.
“I don't necessarily know that the starting spot means quite as much as the pit road selection,” Elliott explained. “That first pit stall I think can be a pretty big benefiting factor if you use it to your advantage, and unfortunately last year I didn't make it to the first pit stop, so we didn't get to use it.
“I think we have some good things and notes that we learned (from qualifying and the Clash) to try to help for next week, and I hope we can just capitalize on all that and just try to put ourselves in a good spot.”
Determined not to make the same mistake
Asked if his performance in the 500 last year will motivate him this season, Elliott said, “I sure would like to not wreck. That’s my goal every week is to not wreck.
“But you know, I definitely made a mistake last year and got in a wreck in the July race, too. Two-for-two on tearing up a lot of stuff in 2016 down here, so I hope that’s not the case.
“But that's a given; I’m not going to try to wreck. Absolutely not.”
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