Already on a roll as of late, Chase Elliott saw his good fortune continue Saturday at Dover Motor Speedway. And for that, he can thank the weather.
Elliott will start from the pole after rain washed out NASCAR Cup Series qualifying, which meant the NASCAR rule book set the starting grid.
Based on that rule book’s procedures for when inclement cancels qualifying, Elliott will roll off first — for the first time in 2025.
“It’s a little different vibe, but we’ll take it,” the Hendrick Motorsports driver said. “We’ll try to take advantage of that first pit stall tomorrow. It’s always a big deal. It’s not something we have a whole bunch, so we’d like to get in the habit of getting that more often. Hopefully, we’ll have a good day.”
So how does Elliott feel about his chances of getting a win at the high-banked 1-mile oval known as the Monster Mile?
Pretty confident — but it actually has very little to do with leading the field to the green flag in his No. 9 Chevy.
Chase Elliott Boasts An Especially Strong Resume At Dover
Even if Chase Elliott was not starting P1 at Dover, he would have great reason for optimism. Along with riding a hot streak and being less than a month removed from his first win of 2025, he’s quite a force to be reckoned with at the Monster Mile.
How good is the second-generation driver at Dover?
Well, in 14 starts at the Delaware facility, he’s finished in the top five on 10 occasions.
Two of those top-fives took the form of wins, the most recent in 2022. Elliott earned a top-five in each of his first four trips to Dover and first went to Victory Lane at the concrete track in his sixth start there. On that day, in 2018, he led just 11 laps but managed to be up front when it mattered most.
“I honestly don’t know why the track has suited me throughout my career,” Elliott said on Saturday. “Kind of right from the rip, I enjoyed coming up here. I ran a truck race here early on in my career, and a few Xfinity races when we raced up here twice a year at that time. So, yeah, all those races were just enjoyable.”
RETWEET TO CONGRATULATE CHASE ELLIOTT ON HIS NASCAR CUP SERIES WIN AT DOVER!@TeamHendrick | @chaseelliott pic.twitter.com/GL1AYFVmeg
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) May 2, 2022
Fan-Favorite Is Taking Nothing For Granted At The Monster Mile
Despite his success at Dover over many years, Chase Elliott is quick to acknowledge the difficulty that the Monster Mile presents.
“The track is challenging,” NASCAR’s perennial most popular driver said. “It’s one of those places that can certainly reach out and get you if you don’t watch it.
“I’ve always just tried to respect this place as best as I know how and hope that it shows me some respect back. That’s kind of always been my approach.”
Told by someone on Saturday that the last 24 NASCAR Cup Series pole winners at Dover haven’t gone on to win the race, Elliott just grinned.
“Thanks a lot. I really appreciate that,” he said with a laugh. “I guess just hope it’s not 25. That’s about all I can do right now. We’ll try to break the streak.”
