Elliott Wins at Talladega with Help from Teammates

Originally written for CLNS Media.

Chase Elliott won the Geico 500 from Talladega Superspeedway on Sunday afternoon to pick up his fourth career victory.

Elliott ran up front for most of the race, and he was able to work his way around Joey Logano for the lead following a late restart with four laps remaining.  Elliott was in the lead when a caution for a wreck in the back of the pack ended the race.

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Elliott said the victory was a testament to the teamwork all the Chevrolet drivers had throughout the race.

“We just had a plan and executed it really well,” Elliott said.  “Obviously could have gone both ways, but fortunately everyone stayed together there and stayed the course.”

Before the race, all the Chevrolet drivers were sat down and told to work together, much like the Ford and Toyota drivers have done to success in past races at Daytona and Talladega.  The drivers formulated a game plan that was successfully implemented, as Chevrolet drivers from Hendrick Motorsports, JTG Daugherty Racing, Chip Ganassi Racing and Richard Childress Racing ran up front for most of the day.

Elliott said he was appreciative of the teamwork that helped him get to victory lane.

“Just a huge thanks to…Chevrolet,” Elliott said.  “Obviously a lot of teamwork done today.”

Alex Bowman was running second behind his teammate when the caution came out, but said he would have made a move to try and get around Elliott had the race gone green to the end.

“There was no plan coming off turn 4, but unfortunately we didn’t get there before the caution came out,” Bowman said.  “I was pretty confident I could get to his quarter-panel through the trioval, and who knows who’s going to get to the line first at that point.”

Unofficial results:

1. Chase Elliott

2. Alex Bowman

3. Ryan Preece

4. Joey Logano

5. Daniel Hemric

6. Kurt Busch

7. Ryan Newman

8. Brendan Gaughan

9. Aric Almirola

10. Kyle Busch

11. Corey LaJoie

12. Daniel Suarez

13. Brad Keselowski

14. Austin Dillon

15. Ryan Blaney

16. Paul Menard

17. Ty Dillon

18. Reed Sorenson

19. Erik Jones

20. Martin Truex Jr.

21. William Byron

22. Jeffrey Earnhardt

23. David Ragan

24. Kyle Larson

25. Ricky Stenhouse Jr.

26. Ross Chastain

27. Parker Kligerman

28. Cody Ware

29. Clint Bowyer

30. Chris Buescher

31. Matt DiBenedetto

32. Justin Haley

33. Jimmie Johnson

34. Landon Cassill

35. Stanton Barrett

36. Denny Hamlin

37. Matt Tifft

38. Kevin Harvick

39. Bubba Wallace

40. Michael McDowell

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Truex Finally Wins with Joe Gibbs at Richmond

Originally written for CLNS Media.

Martin Truex Jr. won the Toyota Owners 400 from Richmond Raceway on Saturday night for his first win of the season.

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Truex finally broke through to win with Joe Gibbs Racing after switching to the Toyota powerhouse following Furniture Row Racing’s closure at the end of 2018.  Truex came into the race winless, while two of his teammates Kyle Busch and Denny Hamlin have won five of the first eight races.

Truex said he was excited to finally win with his new team.

“We’re just really excited,” Truex said.  “Everyone at JGR is doing a great job…we’ve been chipping away at it, so hopefully we can get better from here on out.”

Truex led the most laps on Saturday, but he had to hold off Joey Logano and Clint Bowyer over the final 50 laps.

With the laps winding down, Truex said he began to struggle with his car’s handling.

“I was struggling the last 40 laps; had no front turn,” Truex said.  “I was just real tight that last run.  It was real important to be out front tonight, but thanks to the pit crew they kept us out there.”

Logano was able to get to Truex’s bumper on the final lap, but wasn’t able to pass the driver of the No. 19. 

The two have history together; Logano moved Truex on the final lap at the Playoff race in Martinsville last fall, and the move helped Logano win his first Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Championship.

Logano said the move from last season was on his mind as the race was coming to a close.

“We were close, but not close enough,” Logano said.  “I figured something out there at the end with about 10 laps to go to make up some speed.”

“When you’re frustrated with second, that’s a good sign about where your team’s at.”

Unofficial results:

1. Martin Truex Jr.

2. Joey Logano

3. Clint Bowyer

4. Kevin Harvick

5. Denny Hamlin

6. Austin Dillon

7. Brad Keselowski

8. Kyle Busch

9. Ryan Newman

10. Paul Menard

11. Kurt Busch

12. Jimmie Johnson

13. William Byron

14. Erik Jones

15. Chase Elliott

16. Ricky Stenhouse Jr.

17. Alex Bowman

18. Daniel Suarez

19. Daniel Hemric

20. Ryan Preece

21. Ty Dillon

22. Chris Buescher

23. Aric Almirola

24. Matt DiBenedetto

25. Ryan Blaney

26. Corey LaJoie

27. Bubba Wallace

28. David Ragan

29. Matt Tifft

30. Ross Chastain

31. Jeb Burton

32. Bayley Currey

33. Joey Gase

34. Quin Houff

35. Landon Cassill

36. Michael McDowell

37. Kyle Larson

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Busch Continues to Roll, Wins at Bristol

Originally written for CLNS Media.

Kyle Busch won the Food City 500 from Bristol Motor Speedway on Sunday afternoon for his third victory of the season.

Busch took the lead when the other leaders pitted during a late caution.  On the restart, Busch had to hold off his older brother Kurt for the victory.

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Kyle said it was fitting that the two brothers, who have 14 Bristol wins between them, would battle it out at the end.

“It was fun to battle out the brother there at the end,” Kyle said.  “I saw him working the top…and I was able to get up there and make some ground.”

Busch struggled with his car’s handling throughout the weekend, and was involved in a wreck on lap 1.  After fixing his car and fighting back through the field, Busch said his team got him the track position they needed at the right time.

“This Skittles Camry wasn’t the best today,” Busch said.  “We made the most of not having the best and got everything we needed there at the end.”

Kurt Busch started 27th on Sunday, but after working his way through the field, he found himself chasing his brother for the victory.

Busch said his team gave him a car capable enough of winning, but that his car didn’t handle well until the tires warmed up.

“We struggled on taking off,” Busch said.  “I just can’t get that right-rear to grip until it’s got heat in it; it’s hard to be patient when you’re running for the win on old tires.”

“I really wanted to beat him…I was going to wreck him.  He’s already won, and I figured he could give a little love to his brother.”

Unofficial results:

1. Kyle Busch

2. Kurt Busch

3. Joey Logano

4. Ryan Blaney

5. Denny Hamlin

6. Paul Menard

7. Clint Bowyer

8. Daniel Suarez

9. Ryan Newman

10. Jimmie Johnson

11. Chase Elliott

12. Matt DiBenedetto

13. Kevin Harvick

14. Austin Dillon

15. Ty Dillon

16. William Byron

17. Martin Truex Jr.

18. Brad Keselowski

19. Kyle Larson

20. Bubba Wallace

21. David Ragan

22. Chris Buescher

23. Alex Bowman

24. Erik Jones

25. Ryan Preece

26. Landon Cassill

27. Matt Tifft

28. Michael McDowell

29. Ross Chastain

30. Daniel Hemric

31. Bayley Currey

32. Quin Houff

33. Ricky Stenhouse Jr.

34. Corey LaJoie

35. Timmy Hill

36. Gray Gaulding

37. Aric Almirola

Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images