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Chase Elliott on closing out NASCAR Cup season, preparing for playoffs: 'Just win'

Nick Profile Picby: Nick Geddes08/11/24NickGeddesNews
Chase Elliott
Mike Dinovo-USA TODAY Sports

Having already picked up a win earlier this season (Texas), Chase Elliott doesn’t have anything to worry about as it relates to the road ahead.

Elliott will be a part of the 16-driver playoff field, going for his second NASCAR Cup Series championship. That being said, there are still four regular season races remaining. Speaking Saturday with Bob Pockrass of FOX Sports ahead of Sunday’s Cook Out 400 at Richmond, Elliott said the goal remains being in winning contention as he prepares for the postseason.

“Just win,” Elliott said. “Be in contention to win. Winning would be great. But if you can’t win, being in contention to win is a very close second to just overall performance. And where I feel like we need to be and should be and can be.”

Elliott’s first shot at getting back to Victory Lane comes at Richmond. He is winless at Richmond, finishing a career-best P2 in the 2018 spring race. Elliott was fast in qualifying and will start fourth.

Also at stake for Elliott is the regular season points championship. Elliott enters Sunday’s race 10 points behind Hendrick Motorsports teammate Kyle Larson for the regular season points lead. Elliott held the advantage over Larson until the 2021 Cup Series champion took the checkered flag in the Brickyard 400 ahead of the two-week Olympic break.

Chase Elliott’s Richmond sponsor revealed, replacing Hooters

His No. 9 Chevrolet will look a bit different at Richmond, with Coca-Cola serving as the primary backer. Sunday’s race was supposed to be the third and final race of primary sponsorship for Hooters, however, Hendrick terminated its contract with the chicken wing chain last month.

Coca-Cola fills the void of Hooters on a one-race deal. The iconic soft drink company became the official beverage partner of Elliott and the No. 9 team heading into the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series season. Elliott, who once had a relationship with PepsiCo’s Mountain Dew brand, has been a part of the Coca-Cola Racing Family for the past two seasons, per Toby Christie.

Elliott will look to bring the red and white Coca-Cola Chevrolet to Victory Lane at Richmond.