Chase Elliott Rides Momentum to Victory at Charlotte

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Chase Elliott rides momentum to victory in the NASCAR Cup Series Alsco 500 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
CONCORD, NORTH CAROLINA – MAY 28: Chase Elliott, driver of the #9 Kelley Blue Book Chevrolet, celebrates with a burnout after winning the NASCAR Cup Series Alsco Uniforms 500 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 28, 2020 in Concord, North Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

Chase Elliott rides momentum to victory in the Alsco 500 at Charlotte, his seventh win in 157 Cup Series races.

After a long four hundred lap Coca Cola 600, the NASCAR Cup Series returned to Charlotte Motor Speedway for a short five-hundred-kilometer race. This race was only 208 laps, and for everyone in the field, it felt like a shootout.

The First Stage

William Byron held the pole starting position and led the field down into turn one. Byron held off Matt DiBenedetto for the race lead and continued to lead up until the competition caution on lap 20. Most of the leaders made their way onto pit road for early adjustments, but, multiple drivers stayed out on the track to gain track position.

Joey Logano was one of the drivers staying out, and it paid off for him with a quick pass on the restart to gain the lead. Joey Logano had no other challenges in his way and was able to sail smoothly to a stage one victory.

The Second Stage

Joey Logano won the race off pit road and continued to lead into the second stage. He was quickly passed by Kevin Harvick on lap 66. Then on lap 72, another caution flag waved, bringing the field together. Many cars came down pit road, but Alex Bowman did not. He stayed out to take over the race lead. Alex Bowman continued to lead for the remainder of the green flag laps and was able to win stage two.

The Third Stage

Alex Bowman wins the race off pit road to regain the lead for the final stage of the race. Kevin Harvick made an early pass on Bowman, but Bowman was able to stay with Harvick. While challenging Harvick for the race lead, Bowman hit the wall, forcing him to pit road for an unscheduled stop.

Meanwhile, Kevin Harvick continued to increase his race lead. After a Timmy Hill caution midway through the stage, Chase Elliott began charging through the field. He picked off the second-place position and began tracking down Harvick.

On lap 181, Elliott completes the pass on Harvick to take the race lead. It appeared as though Kevin Harvick’s car lost momentum. He quickly fell back through the field.

Chase Elliott continued increasing his lead over Ryan Blaney in second. The race ran green to the checkered flag and helped Elliott. Chase Elliott rides momentum to victory, his first win of the season in the Alsco Uniforms 500.

Alsco 500 Results Cup Series Point Standings

Chase Elliott’s win is such a relief for him and his No. 9 team. At Darlington, and again in the Coca Cola 600, he was contending for the lead, heading toward a potential win.

In Darlington, Elliott ran behind Denny Hamlin when Kyle Busch inadvertently spun the No. 9 car. During the caution, the rain ended the race with Hamlin winning.

Then, on Sunday at Charlotte Motor Speedway, Chase Elliott was on his way to winning the crown jewel Coca Cola 600, but a late caution forced him to give up the lead.

Chase Elliott finally closed the deal on Thursday night.

The most important part about winning early in the season is that it gives teams the rest of the year to try new ideas and setups to prepare for the playoffs. Now, Chase Elliott and his team can be a little creative in their setups and how they manage races.