Chase Elliott goes up in flames at Texas Motor Speedway

Image from NASCAR on NBC/USA

    This past Sunday, Hendrick Motorsports' Chase Elliott watched his hopes go up in flames at Texas Motor Speedway. The driver of the No. 9 had been leading the Cup Series field out of turn-four and into the front stretch, when all of the sudden a blown, right-front tire sent the Napa Auto Parts machine hard into the outside retaining barrier. 

The No. 9 Camaro burst into flames on the front-stretch, as second place competitor, Ryan Blaney passed by for the lead. Only 185 laps into the 500-mile event, Chase Elliott would escape the engulfed race car and hang his helmet up for the day. Chase Elliott finished 32nd.

Elliott told NASCAR on NBC's Marty Snider, "I just hope nobody gets hurt. Outside of that, I really don't care", when asked about the tire issues he experienced during the race.

This failure to finish for the No. 9 team in the "Autotrader EchoPark Automotive" 500 has bumped Chase Elliott dangerously low in the Cup Series Playoff Standings. Entering this event, the team sat top of the board above the 12 others. Now, with just two races left in the 'Round of 12', Chase Elliott is the last driver above the cut line, only four points to the good.

Like the 'Round of 16', Elliott has once again not finished the opening race, this time in the 'Round of 12'. Chase Elliott fans ought not fear, just yet though. With the high banks of Talladega Superspeedway next on the schedule unexpected results are common, and Elliott could stand to benefit. Additionally in two weeks, the NASCAR Cup Series closes out the 'Round of 12' at the Charlotte Roval, a facility where Chase Elliott knows victory lane. 

 

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