Chase Elliott secured the pole position for NASCAR's pre-season exhibition race, The Clash, at the historic Bowman Gray Stadium. Elliott dominated Heat #1, showcasing the importance of track position at the tight quarter-mile oval.
Chase Elliott claimed the fastest qualifying lap on Saturday, setting the stage for The Clash , NASCAR 's pre-season exhibition race. While Sunday's main race utilizes a different format than a typical Cup Series race weekend, Elliott employed a familiar strategy: securing the pole position through qualifying and dominating Heat #1. As predicted, the heat race victors went on to win their respective 25-lap sprints.
At Bowman Gray Stadium's tight quarter-mile oval, strategic positioning will be paramount for the 200-lap feature event. The heat races demonstrated the difficulty of overtaking without aggressive bumpers; outside passes were only successful during restarts or when drivers bunched up on the inside. Elliott acknowledged this trend, stating, 'it’s going to be tough to win from the third or fourth row. I think the first couple of rows certainly have a massive advantage on the rest of the field.'However, Sunday's race presents a unique challenge compared to Saturday's heats: traffic. The heats involved a maximum of 10 cars, while the main event will see 23 cars vying for position on a single-groove oval, completing 14-second laps. This means the leading drivers won't enjoy uninterrupted clean air. Elliott recognizes this, saying, 'Anything can happen, but, I certainly would want to be on the first couple of rows... And, fortunately, we are. This is the Madhouse, after all. There's nowhere safe.' Even though NASCAR hasn't hosted a proper Cup Series race at Bowman Gray in 54 years, Elliott is among a select few drivers who have previously raced a stock car on the track, although it was nearly 13 years ago in a K&N car. He admitted to having to 're-teach myself' during practice. While avoiding the chaos of the heat races, Elliott sensed the unique atmosphere of the 'Madhouse' through the enthusiastic response of the packed grandstands. Noah Gragson, Justin Haley, and Kyle Busch engaged in an intense battle for the final transfer spot in their heat, resulting in back-to-back cautions and aggressive maneuvers. NASCAR officials intervened when Busch repeatedly hit Justin Haley under caution. 'Everybody was fired up, which is great,' said Elliott. 'That’s what they want. It looked like our heat race got kind of rough at points sometimes, and the crowd reaction reflected that. I couldn’t see it, but I had a pretty good idea that something had happened that was fairly aggressive. But that’s why we’re here. This is what it was meant to be, and I think the crowd and the people that support this race track, and the modified events here over the years, this is what they want. I think they’re in for a good show, so I’m looking forward to being a part of it.
NASCAR The Clash Chase Elliott Bowman Gray Stadium Qualifying Heat Race Track Position Stock Car Racing
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