Chase Elliott will undertake a demanding double role at Pocono Raceway this weekend, Hendrick Motorsports (HMS) revealed on June 16, confirming he will compete in both the NASCAR Cup Series and the Xfinity Series No. 17 car. This adjustment was not part of the original plan, signaling a strategic move to give Elliott extra track time on the challenging tri-oval. The Georgia native’s decision follows his earlier choice to run an Xfinity race at Darlington Raceway, where he finished second despite early damage, using that experience to sharpen his skills for the Cup race.
Having won the inaugural Next Gen Era Cup race at Pocono in 2022, Elliott’s double appearance reflects a continued focus on preparation for this difficult circuit. NASCAR analyst Bob Pockrass shared the news on social media, emphasizing the surprise element of this scheduling change.
“Chase Elliott to drive Xfinity race at Pocono. It wasn’t on the team’s original schedule,” —Bob Pockrass, NASCAR Analyst
Recent Performance Highlights Before Pocono Weekend
Elliott’s recent form has been strong but has not yet delivered a win or secured a playoff position. He currently sits fourth in the overall championship standings with 500 points, trailing his HMS teammate and points leader William Byron by 104 points. At the recent NASCAR race in Mexico City—held at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez—Elliott delivered a determined performance, starting outside the top 10 and fighting hard for a podium finish in third place. Shane Van Gisbergen of Trackhouse Racing dominated that event, finishing significantly ahead of the field.
Chase Elliott Details Challenges in Mexico City Race
Reflecting on his ‘up and down’ experience at the Mexico race, Elliott recounted battling through difficulties after stage two contact affected his position. He dropped to 23rd but climbed aggressively through the field, reaching the top 5 by lap 77 and eventually passing HMS teammate Alex Bowman for third place.
“I felt like we were in a really good spot….I thought, to be honest, that was going to be the race for the win there initially,” —Chase Elliott, NASCAR Driver
“We were kind of up and down all day and finally got going there a few runs from the end and Al made us a good call to get us on tires. Finally had a restart go halfway decent and got a decent top 3 out of it,” —Chase Elliott, NASCAR Driver
Elliott described the physical toll of the race, particularly after passing John Hunter Nemechek and Ross Chastain during the final restart. Managing traffic remains a constant obstacle for him, occasionally forcing him to fall back from strong contention.
Implications of Elliott’s Double Duty for Pocono and the Season
This surprise decision to run two races at Pocono could be a calculated effort by HMS to improve Elliott’s momentum and track familiarity as the season progresses. Given the demanding nature of the Pocono tri-oval, extra laps may offer useful insights and greater confidence ahead of the Cup Series race. With Elliott currently trailing in the championship hunt, this schedule shakeup might play a pivotal role in his pursuit of a first win and a playoff spot.