**Chase Elliott Didn’t Let Rain Damp His Day at New Hampshire Motor Speedway**
Chase Elliott, the NASCAR Cup Series points leader driving the No. 9 Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports, will start in pole position for Sunday’s USA Today 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Despite a misty morning and the cancellation of the qualifying session due to weather, Elliott inherits the pole position thanks to his top spot in the standings.
Saturday’s weather at the 1.058-mile oval track disrupted the schedule, with qualifying canceled at 12:45 p.m. and practice delayed. When practice did start around 2 p.m., it was cut short after four minutes due to more rain. Consequently, the start of Sunday’s race was moved to 2:06 p.m. to avoid further weather issues.
Elliott, who has 591 points this season and one win at Texas Motor Speedway, acknowledges the unusual circumstances but remains positive about his team’s solid performance. With seven top-five and nine top-10 finishes this season, he is optimistic about maintaining his lead and continuing his strong performance through the remaining races before the playoffs.
The inclement weather also impacted the Xfinity Series race, initially scheduled for Friday but moved to Saturday due to rain. The race saw further delays as cars switched between wet and slick tires, ultimately going to an overtime finish. Christopher Bell won the race, while Alex Bowman, another Cup Series driver, used the race to gain extra track time.
Martin Truex Jr., last year’s race winner and 2017 Cup Series champion, will race on Sunday after announcing his retirement from full-time Cup Series racing at the end of the season. He expressed optimism about his performance at Loudon, a track where he has a strong history.
Ryan Blaney, last week’s winner at Iowa Speedway, aims to add another victory and the coveted lobster trophy at New Hampshire, completing a full New England lobster dinner. He appreciates the track and its fans, hoping for favorable weather on race day.
