Chase Elliott’s Daytona 500 dreams end with spin after just 18 laps

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla.—The Daytona 500, she’s a cruel race. Chase Elliott, the most heralded NASCAR rookie in more than 15 years, has learned in a hurry that success one lap is no guarantee of success the next.

Elliott had not only claimed the pole for Sunday’s Daytona 500, he won an Xfinity race the day before. But none of that carried any weight as he and Regan Smith tangled on Lap 18, sending Elliott spinning into the infield grass and detonating any hopes he might have had of winning his first Daytona 500.

At the infield care center after the wreck, Elliott batted back every inquiry with the relentless, seamless defense of a brick wall?

Q: How did you lose it out there?

A. I just got loose off [Turn] 4.

Q: It’s got to be disappointing…

A. Yep, it is definitely disappointing.

Q: Is there a difference in blind spots between the Cup cars and the Xfinity cars…

A: It’s different. That’s not what happened, but it’s definitely different.

Q: Take us through what happened.

A: I don’t know what happened. I spun off [Turn] 4, that’s all I know.

Q: How do tyou group and let this one go?

A: Not much of a choice. It’s done. We’ll let her go and get ready for [the next race at] Atlanta.

Indeed, that was surely a disappointing day for Chase Elliott. Fortunately for him and his many fans, who cheered louder for him than any driver not named Earnhardt, there will be better days ahead.

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