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DOVER, Del. -- Hendrick Motorsports' most consistent driver this season stopped his car on pit road at Dover International Speedway a top-three finisher, secured by an exceptional run amidst a thrilling battle in the closing laps.
Before you jump to conclusions, we're not talking about six-time Sprint Cup Series champion and 10-time "Monster Mile" winner Jimmie Johnson.
Sunoco Rookie of the Year contender Chase Elliott landed his team-best eighth top-10 finish of the season, battling for the lead with eventual race-winner Matt Kenseth and runner-up Kyle Larson to finish third, his best finish through the first third of the 36-race campaign.
"Unfortunately we couldn't be on the good end of (a great race) but proud of our effort today," said Elliott, now seventh in the points standings, solidly in line for a Chase for the Sprint Cup berth. "We really started a good ways out of where we needed to be. I thought we made a lot of really, really solid gains throughout the day to get our car better and better.
" … Hate to not get the job done and be so close, but we'll keep digging at it and try to get a little better."
Elliott, Larson and Kenseth gave fans one of the most entertaining finishes of the season, trading positions back and forth over the final thirty-plus laps with each potential victor offering a uniquely compelling story line.
The No. 24 driver appeared to have the fastest car at times -- and he thought he may be able to pass the No. 20 at some point -- before eventually losing steam while battling the No. 42.
"I mean, I felt like we might (catch Kenseth). It was just a matter of getting some clean laps and not having to fend off the 42 I think was the big thing," Elliott said. "When somebody's on your bumper like that, it's hard to put a real good lap together.
"When you're racing around people, it just slows everybody down. When the 42 got into the 20, I was able to catch them, got a run on Kyle. Looking back, wish I had done some different things to open up some clear lanes and run different lines. Regardless, I don't think we were quite as good as what the 42 was there, and he did a good job of getting back by us, giving Matt a shot."
While neither Elliott nor Larson were able to land in Victory Lane for the first time in their respective Sprint Cup careers, the show the young stars put on while battling with NASCAR's second-oldest full-time Cup series driver -- an accomplished veteran and champion in his own right -- was remarkable.
The battle may have been a preview of the years to come.
"I certainly wouldn't complain if I was battling for wins for the next 10 years," said Elliott. "It would be great on my watch. I don't know about (Larson), but that's the way I would do it. That would be great. I'd love to be in the mix for wins moving forward."
Larson concurred.
"Yeah, no, it was fun battling Chase there. I didn't see him much throughout the race. I knew he was lining up behind me there the last restart," the Chip Ganassi Racing driver said. "It was fun racing with him, though. We've had a lot of good battles through the XFINITY Series and even K&N (Pro Series). Hopefully we're battling up front for many years to come. Just looking forward to the future."
For Elliott, a driver never content with anything short of a race victory, a win can't come soon enough despite Sunday marking continued gains for the 24 team.
"I had a chance and didn't get it done. That's about as simple as it gets. … Doesn't really matter what I say. Till you go get it done, it really is irrelevant," Elliott said. "For me, I think I have a team that's capable of doing it. The way I see today, we had our shot, we had a chance to do it today, I didn't do it.
"Either you do or you don't, and we haven't yet."