Chase Elliott expresses frustration after Pocono Xfinity race incident, highlighting a costly misstep by Justin Allgaier during Saturday’s event at Pocono Raceway. The Hendrick Motorsports driver believed he had a strong shot at victory before contact with Allgaier saw both lose their leading positions in a crucial stage of the race.
In his second and final NASCAR Xfinity Series appearance this season, Elliott started from pole and quickly set the pace by leading the first 20 laps, making it his most dominant front-running stint in the series since his 2015 performance at Richmond. With his No.17 Chevy showing impressive speed, Elliott looked set to convert his strong start into a win, particularly as he controlled the field for a race-best 38 laps.
The turning point came with just 13 laps left when Justin Allgaier, representing JR Motorsports, lost control in turn 1, sliding up into Elliott’s car. Both drivers had to take evasive measures, costing them their places at the front of the pack. This opened the door for Jesse Love and Connor Zilisch to contest the lead, ultimately changing the trajectory of the race.
Once the checkered flag fell, Elliott and Allgaier were seen discussing the incident trackside. Reflecting on the exchange in a media interview, Elliott addressed the accident candidly:
“I have a lot of respect for Justin. We’ve always raced each other with a lot of respect and have had equally as much away from the racetrack too. I don’t have any ill will against him. I hate that he made a mistake with me there. Considering it, you know, it has been my last one for the year. The ol’ Hendrickcars No.17 is pretty fast right now, so I was wanting to cash in on that.” —Chase Elliott, Hendrick Motorsports Driver
Despite the setback, Elliott still managed a fourth-place finish, keeping him within the top five. Earlier in the year, he navigated adversity at Darlington’s Xfinity stop to take second, underscoring his competitiveness even when dealing with challenges. For Justin Allgaier’s JR Motorsports squad, there was solace as teammate Connor Zilisch captured his second victory of the season at Pocono.
Elliott seeks Cup Series advantage from Xfinity experience
Looking ahead, Chase Elliott openly discussed the benefits of taking part in the Xfinity contest in preparation for the Cup Series event at Pocono. The 2020 Cup champion admitted he adjusted his schedule specifically to gain early race repetitions and valuable experience at the front before Sunday’s Great American Getaway 400.
Speaking after the race, Elliott described his stint at the front of the field:
“It was a lot of fun, just kind of leading the charge there. Being able to dice it up through the field and lead some laps and pass, get some good reps restarting races and being on the front row,” he said (via Daily Express US). —Chase Elliott, Hendrick Motorsports Driver
Asked about lessons learned for Sunday’s race, Elliott responded:
“I mean I kind of touched on it a second ago, just the reps in those positions.” —Chase Elliott, Hendrick Motorsports Driver
Heading into the Cup Series contest, Elliott holds the 18th starting spot for the Great American Getaway 400 at Pocono. He stands fourth overall in the drivers’ points, still seeking his first win of the season to guarantee a playoff berth.
The incident with Allgaier at Pocono underscores the high stakes and unpredictable nature of racing, as even strong performances can be upended by split-second events. With Elliott’s determination and focus sharpened by this latest setback, eyes will be on how the lessons from the Xfinity race shape his pursuit of a Cup Series win and a playoff spot at Pocono Raceway.
