Chase Elliott not quick to call Richmond a 'short track'
After finishing a career-best fourth in the Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway, Chase Elliott will be looking for a repeat performance at the very least in the Toyota Owners 400 at Richmond International Raceway (FOX, 1 p.m. ET).
When Elliott takes to the Virginia short track in his No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, it will be the second time for him in the Sprint Cup Series after finishing 16th in the spring race last season. The Dawsonville, Ga. is hoping to take what he learned then and apply it to Sunday's race.
"It was a plus and just dumb luck that the race got rained out and we ended up racing on Sunday instead of Saturday night," Elliott said of last year's event. "I think the luck factor of us racing in the day will lend some knowledge for it being a Sunday race this year."
Although Richmond is considered a short track, he has a different opinion on whether or not it belongs in the same group as Martinsville and Bristol.
"I don't really consider Richmond a short track," said Elliott. "I grew up racing on quarter and half miles, and that's what I consider a short track. A mile is not a short track to me."
Regardless, Elliott is no stranger to Victory Lane at the .75-mile D-shaped oval. The rookie driver scored an XFINITY Series win there last September driving for JR Motorsports.
Elliott, 12th in the standings, has five top-10 finishes after eight races. Although those are impressive numbers for a rookie, he knows it's a working progress.
"We've just had fast cars," Elliott added. "For a guy like me who has a lot to learn and still has a long way to go, that goes a long way. We've had some good cars throughout the year. Hopefully we can keep that going and try to build on it and get a little better."
