ELKHART LAKE, Wis. – Chase Elliott showed again Sunday afternoon why he is the modern king of the road in the NASCAR Cup Series.
After starting 32nd and roaring through the field, Elliott dominated the second half of the Jockey Made in America 250 at Road America, cruising to his second victory of the season and the seventh road course victory of his career. It was the first NASCAR Cup Series race at Road America since 1956.
The victory moved him into sole possession of third on the all-time NASCAR Cup Series road course victory list behind Jeff Gordon (nine wins) and Tony Stewart (eight wins). Seven of Elliott’s 13 career victories have come on road courses.
RESULTS: Jockey Made in America 250
“Man it was a hot day, but a lot of fun,” Elliott said. “Just really proud of our team for overcoming some adversity early and having to start at the back and having good pit stops. I had a really fast NAPA Chevrolet.”
Elliott started near the back of the pack after failing to register a fast lap during qualifying when Bubba Wallace stalled on track with two minutes left in the opening qualifying round. Since it takes more than two minutes to complete a lap on Road America’s 4.048-mile road course, Elliott was left stranded at the back of the field to start the race.
The defending NASCAR Cup Series champion was able to work his way through the field during the opening half of the race, eventually making his way to second behind Kyle Busch by the time the final stage started with 30 laps left.
Matt DiBenedetto, who restarted third, was able to overtake both Elliott and Busch before the lap was complete to move into the lead. Elliott slotted into third, but he didn’t stay there very long as he dispatched Busch for second on lap 33. Three laps later, he moved around DiBenedetto to take the lead.
Elliott continued to lead until the caution flag waved on lap 43 when Anthony Alfredo’s Ford blew a tire, sending him spinning into the gravel trap at turn one. That allowed all the leaders to hit pit road for fresh tires and fuel, with Busch managing to get off pit road first ahead of Denny Hamlin and Elliott.
Aric Almirola and Ryan Blaney, both of whom stayed out after pitting moments before the caution flag waved, restarted on the front row with Elliott lined up fifth.
When the race resumed with 17 laps left Busch quickly went to work, driving by Blaney and Almirola to take the lead with Elliott following in his tire tracks. Elliott stayed right with Busch and was able to overtake him in turn 11, known as the kink, to take the lead for what would prove to be the final time.
Once in front Elliott simply drove away, eventually getting to the checkered flag first by nearly six seconds.
“I never felt like I got in a real good rhythm all of yesterday. For whatever reason there, about halfway through the race I started finding some of that rhythm,” Elliott said. “I was able to put it together and piece (together) different parts of the track and then finally I was able to piece most of it together. Stayed with it and glad it worked out.”
Christopher Bell, who won his first NASCAR Cup Series race earlier this season on the Daytona Int’l Speedway Road Course, was able to run down Busch late in the race to finish second. It was his first top-five finish since April 18 at Richmond (Va.) Raceway.
“That was a lot of fun. Our SiriusXM Camry was really good. Really proud of this 20 group,” Bell said. “It’s been a trying last two months, but I feel like we’re getting back on track here. There is no reason why we can’t be running up front every week.”
Busch finished third after winning Saturday’s NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Road America. His older brother, Kurt Busch, finished fourth with Denny Hamlin in fifth. Rookie Chase Briscoe, Ross Chastain, Tyler Reddick, Martin Truex Jr. and DiBenedetto completed the top-10.
Kyle Larson, who had earned eight consecutive top-10 finishes entering Sunday’s race, finished 16th after spinning late in the race following contact with Alex Bowman.