Chase Elliott wins rain-shortened NASCAR Cup Series debut in Austin

AUSTIN, Texas — Chase Elliott managed the slipping and sliding, the standing water and the poor visibility that made it onerous for drivers to see just some ft in entrance of them.

And when NASCAR’s debut on the Circuit of the Americas ended early due to poor racing circumstances within the rain, Elliott had earned not simply his first victory of the season but in addition historic ones for Hendrick Motorsports and Chevrolet.

Elliott’s Texas Grand Prix victory after 54 of the anticipated 68 laps was win No. 800 for Chevrolet and No. 268 for Hendrick Motorsports, which tied Petty Enterprises for many victories.

“I by no means thought we’d win this many races,” stated group proprietor Rick Hendrick, whose group additionally had earned win Nos. 400, 500, 600 and 700 for Chevrolet. He known as it “an honor” to tie Petty.

“I’m so proud for Chevrolet,” Hendrick stated. “I’ve by no means raced something however Chevrolet.”

When pressed on what wins stand out over time, Hendrick stated, “It takes each a type of wins to get to the quantity we obtained to now. There’s simply so many. All of them are particular.”

Sunday’s race might be notable for ending defending Cup champion Elliott’s winless drought in addition to for placing the drivers by a soggy and infrequently muddy mess earlier than it was ended below the second crimson flag of the afternoon because the rain solely obtained worse.

Elliott’s teammate Kyle Larson and Staff Penske’s Joey Logano rounded out the highest three.

“It’s not the best approach to win, however we’ll take it,” stated Elliott, who stated he additionally had a number of shut calls within the difficult circumstances. “If they are saying race, we’re going to go. In the event that they make the decision to say it’s not doable or not good, that’s what we’ll do.”

Elliott earned his sixth profession street course victory, and he has received 5 of the previous six street races within the Cup Collection. He has 12 Cup wins total.

The race name was a disappointing end to the collection’ first run at a observe constructed for System One, and organizers must resolve in the event that they need to make the Austin observe an everyday cease.

The rain began on the opening lap. The trickiest part to drive was the lengthy, high-speed straight, because the drivers risked hydroplaning or not with the ability to see by the spray kicked up by the automobiles round them.

The worst crash got here when Cole Custer, looking for a visual racing line, smashed into the again of Martin Truex Jr. — who had simply hit Michael McDowell — and Custer’s entrance finish briefly burst right into a fireball on lap 25. Each drivers have been checked on the medical middle and launched.

“We don’t have any enterprise being out within the rain, interval,” stated veteran driver Kevin Harvick. “All I can say is that is the worst determination that we’ve ever made in our sport that I’ve been part of, and I’ve by no means felt extra unsafe in my complete racing profession, interval.”

Larson shrugged off a few of the issues. He was in place late to problem Elliott for the win.

“There’s nothing secure about being a race automotive driver,” Larson stated. “It was getting fairly loopy.

“That’s type of what it’s a must to anticipate from racing within the rain.”

NASCAR now heads to North Carolina for the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway subsequent Sunday, earlier than a return to street racing at Sonoma Raceway.