Cup Series: Elliott dominates NASCAR’s return to the Madhouse

Written by Sean McKean

Credit - Sean Gardner / Getty Images

Leading 171 of the 200 laps, Hendrick’s Chase Elliott won NASCAR’s first visit to Bowman Gray since 1971 with the Clash. It was Elliott’s first win in the Clash

As it unfolded

Off the start, Chase Elliott and Chris Buescher maintained position from their front row starts. Further back, Ryan Preece began making up ground with passes on the outside line.

On Lap 21, Noah Gragson finally made his way off the high line, but in the process, he spun Kyle Busch around. This brought out the first caution of the night.

The next restart saw the top five go single-file quickly, with Elliott maintaining his lead.

The caution came out again on Lap 79. Whilst trying to get through lapped traffic, Chase Elliott spun teammate William Byron around on the frontstretch.

Elliott and Denny Hamlin headed the way on the next restart. By Lap 97, Hamlin finally made the move stick for the lead.

At the halftime break, the top three were Denny Hamlin, Tyler Reddick and Chase Elliott.

Three laps after the restart, Kyle Larson and Chase Briscoe went for a spin off Turn 2. They continued on.

Hamlin again led the way on the restart, and it remained clean until Lap 108. Joey Logano gave a bump to Christopher Bell into Turn 3, which accordioned to Carson Hocevar – who got turned into the outside wall. He continued on but with damage.

Despite pressure from Reddick, Hamlin kept his lead on the next restart.

It only took five laps for the caution to come out – this time, for a two-car spin between Hendrick teammates William Byron and Larson.

On the next restart, Hamlin retained his lead, but Elliott managed to get back by Reddick for second.

The next spin occurred on Lap 121, when Bubba Wallace tapped Brad Keselowski around in Turn 1. Carson Hocevar and Alex Bowman also spun out in avoidance. They all continued with minimal damage.

For the ensuing restart, Hamlin battled Chris Buescher for the lead, but a shove by Elliott allowed the 2020 champion to storm into the lead. In this sequence, Ryan Blaney – who had started at the rear – moved into third.

Within twenty laps, Blaney was on the bumper of Elliott for the lead. However, as the laps wound down, it didn’t seem like Blaney could go anywhere.

Elliott, despite pressure from behind, accomplished domination by taking victory in NASCAR’s grand return to Bowman Gray.

Provisional Results:

1. No.9 - Chase Elliott (Hendrick Motorsports)

2. No.12 - Ryan Blaney (Team Penske)

3. No.11 - Denny Hamlin (Joe Gibbs Racing)

4. No.22 - Joey Logano (Team Penske)

5. No.23 - Bubba Wallace (23XI Racing)

6. No.1 - Ross Chastain (Trackhouse Racing)

7. No.2 - Austin Cindric (Team Penske)

8. No.45 - Tyler Reddick (23XI Racing)

9. No.88 - Shane van Gisbergen (Trackhouse Racing)

10. No.17 - Chris Buescher (Roush Fenway-Keselowski Racing)

11. No.60 - Ryan Preece (Roush Fenway-Keselowski Racing)

12. No.20 - Christopher Bell (Joe Gibbs Racing) +1 lap

13. No.21 - Josh Berry (Wood Brothers Racing) +1 lap

14. No.34 - Todd Gilliland (Front Row Motorsports) +1 lap

15. No.8 - Kyle Busch (Richard Childress Racing) +1 lap

16. No.77 - Carson Hocevar (Spire Motorsports) +1 lap

17. No.5 - Kyle Larson (Hendrick Motorsports) +1 lap

18. No.24 - William Byron (Hendrick Motorsports) +1 lap

19. No.48 - Alex Bowman (Hendrick Motorsports) +1 lap

20. No.4 - Noah Gragson (Front Row Motorsports) +1 lap

21. No.6 - Brad Keselowski (Roush Fenway-Keselowski Racing) +1 lap

22. No.99 - Daniel Suarez (Trackhouse Racing) +2 laps

23. No.19 - Chase Briscoe (Joe Gibbs Racing) [DNF]