Hendrick Motorsports ace Chase Elliott has set up a unique record after his Cup Series race at Nashville Superspeedway. The 28-year-old is now the first driver since Ricky Rudd in 1991 to secure top-20 finishes in the first 19 races of a NASCAR season.
Elliott, the former NASCAR Cup Series champion, was far from his best in 2023. The five-time winner of NASCAR’s Most Popular Driver award failed to register a single victory last season and could not qualify for the playoffs for the first time since his Cup Series debut back in 2016.
The turmoil continued for Elliott even in 2024. A rocky start to the season saw him struggle with his No. 9 Chevy’s race pace, resulting in just one top-10 finish in the first six races. However, his fortunes changed after the 28-year-old snapped his 42-race winless streak at Texas Motor Speedway, emerging victorious in the 276-lap event in April.
Since that victory, Elliott has found a solid run of form, accumulating seven top-five finishes. These performances have not only secured his place in the playoffs but have also positioned him as a contender for the Cup Series regular-season championship.
Elliott’s most recent outing at Nashville Superspeedway, however, deviated from his recent successes. The rain-affected race, which featured a record five overtimes, saw the HMS driver finish in 18th place. Despite this result, his consistent performances throughout the season have set a significant precedent.
With his finish at Nashville, Chase Elliott has become the fourth driver in NASCAR history to finish in the top 20 in the first 19 races of a season, joining an elite group that includes Ricky Rudd, who last achieved this feat in 1991.
The weekend at Nashville was a mixed bag forcha. In addition to his historic achievement, he faced setbacks, notably the end of his long-time sponsorship with Hooters.
The popular restaurant chain, which had been a primary sponsor of Elliott’s No. 9 Chevy since 2017, parted ways with Hendrick Motorsports due to unmet business obligations. In a statement, Hendrick Motorsports expressed their gratitude for the partnership while acknowledging the unfortunate circumstances leading to the split. The statement read:
“Hooters has been a valued partner of Hendrick Motorsports since 2017, contributing to our shared successes both on and off the track. In recent months however, Hooters has not been able to meet its business obligations to our organization. Due to these unfortunate and unexpected circumstances, and despite extensive efforts on both sides to identify a workable solution, it became necessary for Hendrick Motorsports to end the relationship. It has been a privilege having Hooters as a part of our team and we wish them the best.”
Chase Elliott has one more race left with Hooters as the primary sponsor. The brand will feature on his car for the fall Richmond race, having already sponsored him at Atlanta and Texas earlier this year.
