Charlotte, NC (AP) – A victory – in particular in an exhibition race – does not guarantee anything.
But if it was Nascar only five years ago, then Chase Elliott Dominating the victory in the confrontation of the pre-season would do the favorite to win the Daytona 500. This is what the Clash was from 1979 to 2021, when it was the warm -up of Daytona International Speedway for the Nascar version of the Super Bowl.
The drivers used the event to see who had the car to beat in the 500. Elliott’s own father did it in 1987 when “Awesome Bill de Dawsonville” won the shock, then won the 500 of the post Seven days later for his second victory in “the big American race.”
Six times, the clash winner won the 500; The exhibition event was important to a test for the biggest race of the Nascar season.
But the event has now been moved twice in the last four seasons. Nascar executed it for three years on a temporary track at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, then last weekend returned to its roots with the first race of the Cup series since 1971 in Bowman Gray Stadium in Winston-Salem.
Now, a confrontation victory is worth nothing more than a trophy and pride, and perhaps a little momentum before the official start of the season. Although energy and enthusiasm were palpable for two days at Bowman Gray at closed counters, the exhibition was nothing more than a return event for those who aspire to the good old days of Nascar.
Nascar ran to Bowman Gray from 1958 to 1971Then started to develop in larger markets and modern places. Denny Hamlin, the last driver to win the confrontation, then the 500 when he did in 2016, was one of the rare pilots who deplored that the race was no longer the warm -up of the 500.
“I thought it provided tons of stories for the 500,” said Hamlin. “At the time, if you saw someone who was really dominated in the shock, it was like:” They have a big car, they will be hard to beat, no matter where they start. Now that it is such a tracking race race, I don’t know you will get the direct correlation. »»
Hamlin’s only hope was that Sunday evening’s race in Bowman Gray “would bring a little about 500 media threshing”, and it is quite possible given the victory of Chase Elliott.
Elliott, after all, is seven times the most popular pilot voted by Nascar fans and his victory was naturally adopted with enthusiasm by the 17,000 people present. He won his Heat Saturday Night race to leave the post and led 172 of the 200 laps on the quarter of Mile to win the exhibition for the first time.
But he has 0 for 9 in Daytona 500, where he started twice from the post, but his finalist in 2021 is his best performance. He lost that year Oppressed companion Michael McDowell Like Elliott, then the defending champion of the Cup, was not even a real competitor and other drivers who would crash his second place.
So, no, his confrontation victory is not an indicator of what Elliott could do when the teams go to Florida next week to start the preparations for February 16 Daytona 500.
He was hopeful that, if nothing else, Hendrick Motorsports’ crew No. 9 will have at least momentum when he arrives at Daytona International Speedway.
“I mean, look, I know it’s not a point race, but I don’t care,” said Elliott. “These things, guy, they are so difficult to win. Whether it’s a point race, not a point race, before the season, the All -Star – This garage has become so competitive, these guys are so good in What they do, it is very rewarding to cross the finish line first in the type of event that you run against these types of pilots and teams.
“For me, it’s very pleasant from our point of view. We will take the positive points of the weekend. It is certain that we recognize that there are 37 others (races) to go. There remains a lot of race. I just hope we can build on this.
Elliott has not reached the four championship since 2022 and has only a paying victory in the past two seasons. But for the head of the crew Alan Gustafson, seeing Elliott winning the shock was a step in the right direction and gave hope for what will happen this season.
“I’m sure everyone wanted to win who was here. The fact is that we did, so we are satisfied with this. Does not pay any point, does not pay any bonus point. We certainly understand that, ”said Gustafson. “I think it’s just a validation so that we have all tried to come here and win, we have all tried to come here and succeed. You give validation in your process, validation in the way your team works and works.
“I certainly think that it will give confidence and validation in pursuit by seeing that he did an incredible job to win the race. Basically, quite well. These are all good things. How far will it be for you? Not until you arrive in Daytona, you discharge and you have to start again. “”
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