Two Hendrick Motorsports drivers are currently on a hot streak. Kyle Larson dominated most of the action at Bristol last weekend, with Chase Elliott taking second place. Both drivers are well-positioned to succeed at Kansas Speedway. While Larson narrowly won the spring race in a photo finish, Elliott stands out with a 10.2 average finish over 17 starts, something he’s counting on.
Elliott knows the challenges ahead. The 2.66-mile Talladega Superspeedway is notorious for its unpredictability, with drivers approaching it cautiously. From Rusty Wallace’s dramatic airborne crash in 1993 to the recent multi-car wrecks, Talladega remains one of the most feared tracks. Even Larson admitted he prefers Kansas to be the first race in this round, giving him some relief. Elliott, too, is focusing on Kansas, the track he feels more confident about, to avoid relying on luck at Talladega.
Elliott commented on the chaotic nature of Talladega: “It’s always unpredictable, no matter when it falls in the season. You never know what might happen.” Despite owning a 2018 win at Kansas among 8 top-five finishes, Elliott emphasized the importance of performing well at this 1.5-mile track to gain an advantage in the playoff round. He noted that the Kansas race offers more control to drivers, unlike Talladega, where chaos often rules.
Elliott affirmed his belief in Kansas after securing a top-five finish earlier in the year. He views the upcoming race as an opportunity to minimize the importance of Talladega’s results. “There’s more in my hands this weekend than there will be at Talladega. I want to perform well enough so next week doesn’t matter.” Although Elliott has won at Talladega in 2019 and 2022, he understands why even experienced drivers dread the track. With NASCAR considering changes like adding air deflectors to cars, tensions are running high.
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