At the season opening NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Daytona International Speedway last week, Elliott was caught up in two separate incidents not of his making. The first left his NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet with a damaged front end.
The second incident left his No. 9 Camaro so badly damaged that it resulted in his first career Xfinity Series DNF.
But Atlanta Motor Speedway could turn the early season disappointments around.
Elliott hails from Dawsonville, Ga., a little over an hour north of the Hampton, Ga. speedway. The track also holds a special distinction for the son of NASCAR Hall of Famer Bill Elliott, as he scored his first career NASCAR Xfinity Series pole at this event last year.
While that pole didn't not result in a win for the youngster, it did produce a top 5 finish that helped him on his way to becoming the youngest champion in series history.
Despite having only competed on the 1.54-mile track once before, Elliott showed his strength in Friday's practice sessions for the Xfinity Series. In the first session, he was 12th fastest with a lap at 179.813 mph, turning just two laps in the session. In the final practice, he put up the fifth fastest time with a lap at 180.375.
The weather could play a big factor in the event. When Elliott won the pole in last year's race, held on Labor Day weekend, temperatures were sweltering in the lower 90s. This year, with the race being moved to the final day of February, the temperatures have been much cooler, changing the approach that teams will have to take to the 250 mile race.
But for Elliott, the situation seems to be well in hand.
"I learned a lot from (Kevin) Harvick during last year's race," Elliott said. "He runs such a solid line all the way around there. It's a fast, fast place and the track is worn a bit, so it certainly puts on a show for the fans.
And those fans are expected to be out en masse Saturday. Every time Elliott scores a win, the siren atop the famed Dawsonville Pool Room in his hometown screams loud and proud. Those fans are hoping to be able to witness a win by that would again set off the siren, signaling another hometown victory.
A win could be just the thing to get Elliott back on track to defending his series title as well. Georgia has already been good to him from a racing standpoint this season. Back in January, he dodged a late race tangle between John Hunter Nemechek and Bubba Pollard to score his second straight SpeedFest Super Late Model victory at Watermelon Capital Speedway in Cordele, GA.
On Saturday, he'll be looking to add another piece of hardware to his 2015 trophy case and take the first big step towards defending his title.
WDUN will have live PRN Radio coverage of this weekend's action at Atlanta Motor Speedway, beginning with Saturday's NASCAR Xfinity Series race, beginning at 1:30 p.m. on 102.9 FM. Then on Sunday, it's the second race of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season, the QuikTrip 500, beginning at 12 p.m. on 102.9 FM and at 1 p.m. on 550 AM.
Chase Elliott (right) talks with Kevin Harvick (left) in the garage during NASCAR Xfinity Series practice Friday at Atlanta Motor Speedway. / Photo: Jerry Markland/Getty Images for NASCAR
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