AUSTIN, Texas — Chase Elliott’s race was almost over before it began during Sunday’s EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix at Circuit of The Americas. He eventually scored a fourth-place finish, but only after a sizable rally back into contention.
At the drop of the rag, Ross Chastain barreled his No. 1 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet into Turn 1 after starting ninth. He shaded over as far as one could get on the racing surface, giving himself little chance to hit the corner’s apex.
Chastain missed the corner entirely and clipped third-place starter Elliott in the process, spinning the No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevy into the middle of the track. Denny Hamlin, Connor Zilisch and Todd Gilliland were all victims of the early dive bomb gone awry.
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Elliott’s car sustained a broken toe link, and he bled back into the pack at the rear of the field. Trying to salvage the day, crew chief Alan Gustafson flipped the opening stage, taking the green-and-white checkered flag in fifth and earning the No. 9 team six points. Repairs came during the Stage 1 break.
More drivers chased points in Stage 2, preventing Elliott from banking additional stage points. But his race was just starting.
The second half of the event was when Elliott excelled, making quick work of the competition. When the final caution flew for a spin involving Denny Hamlin and Austin Dillon with 17 laps remaining, Gustafson called the No. 9 car to pit road. Restarting outside the top 20, Elliott used fresh tires to his advantage.
“Alan made a great call to put tires on and try to get on offense,” Elliott said. “That was really our only chance to make anything out of it. It worked out.”
Elliott rapidly cracked the top 10. Chastain pulled over to let Elliott by for a position with less than 10 laps remaining, as the No. 1 team considered that Elliott might retaliate from the opening-lap contact.
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The No. 9 car continued the hunt and drove to fourth position, 5.2 seconds off race winner Christopher Bell.
“I wish we could put together a clean day,” Elliott stated. “It sucks to fall behind that early. We had a great NAPA Chevy (Saturday) and I would have liked to have seen how we stacked up with these guys today. Bummed that we got behind, had damage, got to fix it and it never drove like it did yesterday. Would have loved a shot at it without trying to piece it back together.
“Great recovery, for sure. I just hate we had to recover.”
Elliott had yet to watch a replay of the encounter with Chastain. Both Chastain and Gustafson declined to comment on the incident.
Tied with Tyler Reddick for scoring the fifth-most points at COTA, Elliott gained five spots in the regular-season standings, slotting in fifth.