Daytona notes: Chase Elliott’s winning chance ends early
Pole-sitter Chase Elliott had a forgettable end to what should have been a memorable week.
Elliott saw his Daytona 500 debut come to a sudden halt on Lap 19, as he spun out coming out of Turn 4 and skidded into the infield grass damaging his car severely.
“I’m not sure, just got turned around there off of 4,” Elliott said. “Lost it and spun out. I hate it for everybody at less than 20 laps in and have something dumb like that happen. I apologize to my guys.”
Elliott, the 20-year-old son of Hall of Famer Bill Elliott, had been one of the darlings of the event all week. The rookie is taking over Jeff Gordon’s No. 24 Chevrolet, and is viewed as one of the young, promising drivers in the sport.
I hate it for everybody at less than 20 laps in and have something dumb like that happen. I apologize to my guys.
Driver Chase Elliott
Elliott showcased his talent by winning the pole and then taking the checkered flag in the Xfinity Series race Saturday. Nobody would have been shocked if Elliott had won the prestigious event in his debut, either.
But it simply wasn’t meant to be.
“I hate it … it had been such a fun week and you hate to end the race before it even got started,” said Elliott, who led the race’s first three laps.
“Just disappointed for everybody. We will just have to look past it and get on for Atlanta. That is the most important thing now. Can’t get caught up in what happened today, it is irrelevant now.”
Elliott and his team managed to fix the car enough to get it back on the track, but he returned 40 laps down and finished 37th.
Junior wrecks late
Dale Earnhardt Jr. entered this year’s Daytona 500 as the favorite, and tried to make a push toward the front with 30 laps to go.
That move, though, backfired as he lost control of his car coming out of Turn 4. With that, Earnhardt’s day ended and he settled for 36th place.
It was a disappointing finish for Earnhardt, who had won a Can-Am Duel on Thursday and is widely considered the best restrictor-plate driver on the circuit.
I just got loose. ... Driver mistake.
Driver Dale Earnhardt Jr.
“I just got loose,” Earnhardt said. “I was aggressive trying to side-draft guys and move forward. We were making some ground on the leaders a little bit so that was looking pretty good because the outside line really hadn’t been doing anything all day. Just busted my butt there. Driver mistake.”
Texas ties
Prosper native Chris Buescher, who made his Daytona 500 debut in the No. 34 Ford, was involved in a hard wreck on Lap 92 with Matt DiBenedetto.
Buescher called it the hardest wreck he’s been involved in during his racing career, but he was able to climb out of his car. Still, it ended the day for the reigning Xfinity Series champion who finished 39th, one spot ahead of DiBenedetto.
“We were having so much fun,” Buescher said. “I hate that I’m standing here right now.”
Robert Richardson Jr., meanwhile, didn’t have much magic left after his improbable story to get in the field. The Pilot Point hay farmer stayed on the lead lap for more than half the race, but clearly had the slowest car lagging behind much of the day.
Richardson eventually took his car in after 135 laps and didn’t return. He should have no complaints, though. He exceeded expectations by simply qualifying. He wound up finishing 38th of 40.
Finally, Corpus Christi native Bobby Labonte — the 2000 Cup champion — made his 24th consecutive Daytona 500 start and finished 31st. Labonte drove the No. 32 Ford and led for a lap under caution.
Drew Davison: 817-390-7760, @drewdavison
This story was originally published February 21, 2016 at 6:52 PM with the headline "Daytona notes: Chase Elliott’s winning chance ends early."