Chase Elliott claims Bristol Pole Award
BRISTOL, Tenn. — Chase Elliott became the eighth different pole winner this season in just as many races Friday afternoon at Bristol Motor Speedway in Food City 500 qualifying. The Pole Award is Elliott’s first at a venue that is not a superspeedway.
“I’ve really been wanting a pole outside of Daytona and Talladega for a long time now,” the Hendrick Motorsports driver said. “So, I feel like I was finally able to contribute from my end a little bit more and get a pole that my team certainly deserves. We’ve got a fast NAPA Chevy.”
“I appreciate everybody’s efforts at Hendrick Motorsports and the engine department and the chassis shop and everybody back home. They’ve been working really hard to try to get better and this is a big deal. We have some work to do, I think, for Sunday and we’ll go to work tomorrow and try to get it driving good for 500 laps. That’s a long time.”
Elliott turned a lap averaging 131.713 mph. around the half-mile high-banked short track. Hendrick Motorsports teammate William Byron will start second, followed by Ryan Blaney in third and Erik Jones in fourth. Last weekend’s winner, Denny Hamlin, will start fifth.
2019 Food City 500 Starting Lineup
The Dawsonville, Georgia-native finished third in the night race last August, which is his best Bristol finish.
The 2019 Food City 500 will be televised live on Fox Sports 1 Sunday at 2:00 p.m. EDT.
Matt Courson View All
Matt Courson is the Managing Editor for The Racing Experts. Courson has covered NASCAR events at 19 of the 23 active racetracks. When not at the track, the 20-year-old Journalism major enjoys spending time with family and playing Ingress.