“Unbelievable.”
That is the one word Chase Elliott described in victory lane Friday night at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway as the JR Motorsports rookie used a last lap pass on Elliott Sadler to collect back-to-back victories in the NASCAR Nationwide Series VFW Sport Clips Help A Hero 200.
Despite his first tango with “The Lady In Black,” Elliott seemed more like a veteran in his No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet Camaro to score his second consecutive win in just his seventh career start.
Elliott, son of legendary Bill Elliott appeared doomed for his second consecutive victory after the final caution flag waived inside the final 10 laps of the race, after Tanner Berryhill went for a ride after contact from Kyle Larson. Under the yellow, the leaders pitted with Elliott Sadler and Larson electing to take two tires. The rest of the field behind them came out on four tires.
When the green flag flew with two laps to go, Elliott utilizing the high line, made his move through the field and found himself in second coming to the white flag. The Dawsonville, Georgia native made his move on the backstretch with a textbook pass on Elliott Sadler and thundered away to become the youngest back-to-back winner in NASCAR Nationwide Series history.
Despite his inexperience at the 1.366-mile track, Elliott asserted his excellence early in the race. After restarting fourth on Lap 24, he made short work of the cars in front on him. On Lap 27, he stormed past Harvick and Matt Kenseth into the second spot and seven laps later sped by Busch, the pole sitter, for the lead.
Elliott, following a restart on Lap 64 would charge back into the lead for 24 laps through Lap 88, before Kyle Larson took the spot and shuffling Elliott down to third. Busch, driver of the No. 54 Monster Energy Drink Toyota Camry reassumed the point on Lap 90 and held it for 53 laps until the seventh and final yellow flag waived.
From there, crucial pit stops occurred. JR Motorsports fumbled with Elliott, but it proved to be a blessing in disguise allowing his outline line to take off on the restart and send Elliott on a mission. A mission that paid off.
“I knew the guys on two tires (Sadler and Larson) were going to be a little slower than the guys on four,” Elliott said of the final restart. “Our lane went and Elliott (Sadler) got a little loose off (Turn) 2 and let me get to the outside, and that was where I wanted to be anyway.”
Elliott won last Saturday at Texas Motor Speedway, but the victory at Darlington, where his father, Bill Elliott, won five NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races, had special significance.
“Darlington has always been my favorite place to watch a race,” said Elliott, the youngest driver ever to win at Nationwide Series race at Darlington at 18 years, four months, four days. “Just to be a part of this race is unbelievable.
“To win this thing is a day I’ll never forget.”
Sadler wound up second followed by Matt Kenseth, Kyle Busch and Joey Logano to round out the top-five.
Larson wound up sixth ahead of Kevin Harvick, Regan Smith, Trevor Bayne and Ty Dillon to comprise the remainder of the top-10.
Other notables: Brian Scott (11th), Landon Cassill (12th), Ryan Reed (13th), J.J. Yeley (14th), Josh Wise (15th), Mike Wallace (17th) and Jeffery Earnhardt (20th).
Brendan Gaughan was turned out of traffic coming to the checkers and had to settle for a 22nd place run.
Todd Bodine, the 2003 Darlington Nationwide winner flexed some muscle early in his No. 55 Viva Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro early, but endured problems late and finished 28th.
Cale Conley making his second career Nationwide Series start for Richard Childress Racing brought out the sixth caution on Lap 96 and suffered a 32nd place effort.
After seven races, Elliott leads the Nationwide Series standings with a 13 point gap on Regan Smith. Sadler is third (-20), followed by Ty Dillon (-23) and Trevor Bayne (-30).
Next up for the NASCAR Nationwide Series is the first of two trips at Richmond (Va.) International Raceway for the running of the ToyotaCare 250 on Friday, April 25.
Follow Chris Knight on Twitter @Knighter01.
