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Bob PockrassNASCAR
DOVER, Del. – Kevin Harvick left the race track disappointed on Sunday, as a bit of bad luck overcame his dominant day. Aric Almirola left frustrated, angry and angry after a warning had erased his considerable lead and that he could not capitalize as he was trying to rally late in the race.
Chase Elliott? He is aware of all these feelings to Dover. He had the impression a year ago, when Kyle Busch, dressed in new tires, crashed against him to approach the white flag.
Elliott appreciated the rare feeling of redemption on Sunday as team leader Alan Gustafson left it on old tires.
In a chaotic final at Dover International, Chase Elliott managed to move away to secure victory and a place in the next round of the NASCAR playoffs.
Aric Almirola was on his way to victory on Sunday before an accident seven laps from the end. He finished 13th and extended his winless streak to 149.
Jimmie Johnson bought the 12 children's bikes from Martin Truex Jr.'s team as a joke for having it demolished last week in Charlotte.
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"Last fall was a tough race, and as I've said to a lot of people, it was probably the toughest day of my career," Elliott said. "And being able to come back and put those things behind you and prove your belonging is very rewarding."
Elliott, 22, won his first career victory there were just eight races at Watkins Glen, winning a slightly unexpected victory. Sunday's win was also a little unexpected, as he barely sniffed the leaders and was given an uncontrolled tire penalty after the first leg that forced him to rally throughout the event.
But he found himself third in the lead by staying out when the leaders clashed, and this time he held everyone with old tires. It was not a situation comparable to the way he lost the race a year ago, but mentally, it showed his progress in managing the stress and pressure of those who breathed the rear bumper.
"Mentally, I have a little more confidence in that.I think that last year you find yourself in such situations, and … I just have a little more confidence in that. "said Elliott. "The end was nothing like last year's race, but it was definitely a tough end with adversity, getting back on old tires and letting those guys wear new tires behind you.
"All this adds up, and it certainly was not the same complexion as the race one year ago. (…) Just to have more confidence in these raises and it's great, and the more you are in these positions, the better you feel. "
Elliott has experienced another growth over the last year. He had Denny Hamlin at his side in the last round, with green and white checks.
Elliott and Hamlin had an infamous downswing at the end of the fall 2017 race in Martinsville, where Hamlin eventually made Elliott slip away as they were fighting over their heads. Elliott entered Hamlin after the race, a defining moment for Elliott, showing that he would not back down in front of the veterans. Elliott destroyed Hamlin a few weeks later in Phoenix.
"I have the impression that we have run a lot together since last fall, but I have not had a problem with it since that time," said Elliott. "I can not say that I have distinguished him there."
Elliott's boss, Rick Hendrick, thought about this Martinsville finish. If Elliott had been able to win, he would have gone to the final round of the playoffs.
Hendrick sees where Elliott has come from and perhaps feels a little redeemed by hiring Elliott at a young age and seeing him win races in his third full season as a Cup driver.
"What I saw him doing at Watkins Glen was incredible against some of the best road racers," Hendrick said. "Seeing it grow on some of these tracks has been amazing.We were on a tour of it to go to Homestead last year when it was spun.
"I think we were late this year, we caught up a bit and he just has an incredible amount of talent."
But talent must be nurtured. Gustafson, who is often the lightning rod on social media to explain Elliott's difficulties in winning races, is the one who did that.
"All we're trying to do is look at the situation with a very clear vision, without bias, and simply report on our actions and say," Hey, that's the reality of what happened past, that's why it happened, and that's potentially what we could have done to improve, "said Gustafson.
"Where you benefit, when you come back into this situation, then you have a little bit in your game book. … You're just quicker and more able to do it, and you're faster and more able to adjust , and you are faster and more apt not to be complacent. "
The first driver to win a third-round semi-final place, Elliott finds himself in a similar position with respect to the title of world champion, although he has not experienced such a good season. .
"I thought we had a great race last year," Elliott said.
"Personally, I felt like we were going well beyond what we expected, close to Homestead. Nothing prevents us from doing that this year and giving these guys a chance.
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