Chase Elliott Nearly Repeats 2019 Comeback After Ross Chastain’s Aggressive Move
Ross Chastain of Trackhouse Racing wasted no time making a bold move for the lead at the start of Sunday’s EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix at Circuit of the Americas (COTA).
His overly aggressive dive into turn one had virtually no chance of success, sending Hendrick Motorsports’ Chase Elliott spinning from third place all the way to the back of the field in 37th.
Unsurprisingly, Chastain’s attempt to win the race in the opening seconds didn’t pan out, and Elliott, clearly frustrated, expressed his anger over the radio, promising retribution for the overly aggressive move by Chastain, who has developed a reputation for rough driving.
Elliott Charges Through the Field, Nearly Pulqls Off Another Iconic Comeback.
Rather than focusing on revenge, Elliott channeled his frustration into an impressive display of skill, reminiscent of his unforgettable comeback at the Charlotte Roval in 2019. In that race, after crashing into the turn one barrier and dropping to 31st, he fought his way back through the entire field to claim victory.
At COTA, Elliott initially stayed on track while most of the field pitted, securing a fifth-place finish in the first stage. However, after stopping for repairs, fresh tires, and fuel, he restarted at the rear of the pack.
He gradually worked his way forward, spending much of the race around 18th to 22nd place before breaking into the top 15 late in the race.
A final caution allowed him to pit once more for fresh tires, giving him the edge he needed to continue picking off cars.
By the time the checkered flag waved, he had climbed all the way to fourth. While he never truly challenged for the win, a late caution or a few more laps could have changed the
