CHASE ELLIOTT (HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS) CHEVY
2019 DRIVER FANTASY RANKING: 4TH
2018 FANTASY NASCAR RANK: 4TH
2018 RECAP: Chase Elliott had a good season in 2018. The Chevy teams struggled to figure out the aero-dynamics of the new Camaro ZL1 chassis and this slowed him down but it could not prevent him from being one of the top fantasy drivers in 2018. What made last season so good for Elliott is that he finally turned his second-place finishes into wins. Elliott won at Watkins Glen, Dover and Kansas. These three tracks could not be more different. This shows that Elliott can run on any type of track and that provides for a bright future for the No. 9 team in 2019. (Chase Elliott ranked 9th in fantasy points scored in 2018)
Year in Review: Chase Elliott Video
2019 Preview: I picked Chase Elliott to be the 4th-best fantasy driver in 2018 and that did not happen. I did not expect the Chevys teams to struggle so much with their new car. My pick could have been a year early. Now that Elliott has figured out how to get to Victory Lane, he should be a threat to reach the final four in Homestead. Hendrick Motorsports made a lot of changes in their organization but none with the No. 9 team. Alan Gustafson will once again serve as the crew chief and NAPA Auto Parts will be the primary sponsor (26 races). Elliott enters his 4th full-time season in the Cup Series. This is the year when it will all come together for him and he proves he is one of the elite drivers in the sport.
INTERMEDIATE TRACK VALUE
Chase Elliott had one win (Kansas) and only four finishes in the top 10 on the intermediate tracks last year. I blame the poor results on the car and not Elliott. The No. 9 team really caught fire at these tracks in the playoffs. Elliott won at Kansas, finished 6th at Texas and 7th at Homestead. I expect that momentum will carry over into the 2019 season. The best intermediate tracks for Elliott are Michigan and Atlanta. Can you imagine the celebration in Georgia if Elliott were to go to Victory Lane at Atlanta? He is a driver we need to keep an eye on for Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS). His price will not be top-five, but the results should be. (Chase Elliott ranked 11th in fantasy points scored on the intermediate tracks in 2018)
SUPERSPEEDWAY TRACK VALUE
Chase Elliott has been horrible at Daytona and only “OK” at Talladega. If the races at these two tracks were only one-lap in length, Elliott would be the best choice in the field. Alan Gustafson is the best crew chief in the garage at setting up a car to qualify on the Superspeedways. He has been the crew chief for six pole winning cars at the Superspeedways since 2016. Elliott usually qualifies up front and then finds the big wreck. His average finishing position in his six races at Daytona is 28.6. His average finishing position in his six races at Talladega is 16.1. There are safer picks for your fantasy team at the Superspeedways then Elliott. (Chase Elliott ranked 26th in fantasy points scored on the Superspeedways in 2018)
FLAT TRACK VALUE
Chase Elliott started to figure out the flat tracks (Phoenix, Richmond, Martinsville and Loudon) last year. He finished 2nd, 3rd and 23rd in his last three races at Phoenix. Elliott finished 2nd and 4th in his two races at Richmond. After leading 123 laps at Martinsville in 2017, Elliott returned to the track to finish 7th and 9th in his two races at the track last year. He was able to finish in the top-five for the first time at Loudon. Elliott keeps improving on the flat tracks and he is one of the drivers you need to consider for your fantasy team at Phoenix, Richmond, Martinsville and Loudon. (Chase Elliott ranked 5th in fantasy points scored on the flat tracks in 2018)
STEEP TRACK VALUE
Chase Elliott was one of the best drivers on the steep tracks (Bristol, Dover and Darlington) in 2018. Dover ranks as his best track. Elliott has six starts at the Monster Mile on his resume and he finished five of them in the top five, including a trip to Victory Lane last year. Elliott must be on all fantasy teams at Dover. His success at Dover is staring to translate in positive runs at Bristol. After struggling in Thunder Valley for most of his career, Elliott was able to finish 3rd under the lights at Bristol. Darlington has also been a good track for Elliott. He finished 5th at the Lady in Black last year and he has three consecutive top 11 finishes at the Track Too Tough to Tame. Elliott is a must start at Dover and he should be highly considered at Bristol and Darlington. (Chase Elliott ranked 6th in fantasy points scored on the steep tracks in 2018)
ROAD COURSE TRACK VALUE
Chase Elliott was not considered a great road course driver entering the 2018 season. He then goes out and scores more fantasy points on the road courses then any driver in the Cup Series. No one saw that coming. Elliott won his first race at Watkins Glen. He also finished 4th at Sonoma and 6th at the Charlotte Roval. He led the series in Driver Ranking and average finishing position at the road courses in 2018. Can he do it again? The competition is tough, but when everyone is using Kyle Busch or Kevin Harvick on the road courses, it may be a wise decision to use Elliott and gain some ground in your league standings. (Chase Elliott ranked 1st in fantasy points scored on the road courses in 2018)
Best Tracks to for Chase Elliott: 1) Dover, 2) Sonoma, 3) Watkins Glen, 4) Michigan, 5) Homestead
*Stats from FantasyRacingCheatSheet.com, Driveraverages.com and career stats from Racing-Reference.Info…
* Team Information from Jaysky.com
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