Chase Elliott Rolls The Dice And Wins The 49th Annual Gander Outdoors “400"

Chase Elliott celebrates with his entire team on Dover International Speedway front stretch. Dean Patton Photo

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Dover, DE - RIS - Chase Elliott plays the odds at Dover and wins the 49th Annual Gander Outdoors “400”. Kevin Harvick drove the #4 Busch Outdoors Ford like a man on a mission and a simple lug nut situation took him out of the running. Then Aric Almirola in the #10 Smithfield Ford was really in the catbird seat and a Yellow brought out with 15 laps to go took out the spoilers run. A mishap coming out of turn two ended Almirola’s chances, leaving Chase to battle with Denny Hamlin on Green, White, Checker run to the finish. 

Elliott’s team opted to not change tires on the #9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet, as most others opted to do. In the end it was a no show for the remainder of the field as Chase Elliott wins for the first time at Dover International Speedway. This win assures the team a spot in the next go round of the NASCAR Monster Energy Cup Series playoffs.

Finishing second was Denny Hamlin in the #11 FedEx Express Toyota who changed two tires, and still could not best Chase Elliott in his charge to the win. Joey Logano drove the #22 Shell Pennzoil Ford to a third place finish and will carry his team further into the playoffs.

As it shakes out Kevin Harvick will take a 5 point lead in the standings over Kyle Busch into next week and just one more step into the playoffs. NASCAR will make the final determination of the official finish once all inspections are complete. One last bit of info that I will pass on is that William Byron wheeling the #24 Hendrick Autoguard Chevrolet was the highest finishing Rookie and he brought it home in 19th position. NASCAR has reported that Post-Race Inspection is complete and there are no discrepancies to be reported.

It also needs to be reported that Jimmie Johnson the odds on favorite to walk away with this event had mechanical problems before the drop of the Green and started 10 laps down and did finish 36th in the event.

That’s it from Dover and I will see you at the track.

Unofficial Race Results for the 49th Annual Gander Outdoors "400" - Oct 7, 2018, Dover International Speedway - Dover, DE
Fin, Str, Driver, Car, Laps, St1, St2, Pts, Status, Tms, Laps, Playoff Pts
1) 9, Chase Elliott (P), No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet, 404, 5, 9, 48, Running, 1, 11, 5
2) 15, Denny Hamlin, No. 11 FedEx Express Toyota, 404, , 8, 38, Running, , , 
3) 6, Joey Logano (P), No. 22 Shell Pennzoil Ford, 404, 2, 4, 50, Running, 1, 2, 
4) 16, Erik Jones, No. 20 Craftsman Toyota, 404, , , 33, Running, , , 
5) 7, Kurt Busch (P), No. 41 Monster Energy/Haas Automation Ford, 404, 8, 6, 40, Running, , , 
6) 2, Kevin Harvick (P), No. 4 Busch Outdoors Ford, 404, 1, 1, 51, Running, 5, 286, 2
7) 14, Austin Dillon, No. 3 AAA Chevrolet, 404, , , 30, Running, , , 
8) 1, Kyle Busch (P), No. 18 Interstate Batteries Toyota, 404, 3, 7, 41, Running, 3, 21, 
9) 21, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 17 Fastenal Ford, 404, , , 28, Running, 1, 7, 
10) 19, Daniel Suarez, No. 19 ARRIS Toyota, 404, , , 27, Running, , , 
11) 8, Ryan Blaney (P), No. 12 PPG Ford, 404, 7, , 30, Running, , , 
12) 10, Kyle Larson (P), No. 42 Credit One Bank Chevrolet, 404, , , 25, Running, , , 
13) 11, Aric Almirola (P), No. 10 Smithfield Ford, 404, 9, 5, 32, Running, 2, 64, 
14) 4, Brad Keselowski (P), No. 2 Wurth Ford, 404, 6, 10, 29, Running, 2, 8, 
15) 3, Martin Truex Jr. (P), No. 78 5-hour ENERGY/Bass Pro Shops Toyota, 404, 10, 3, 31, Running, , , 
16) 18, Paul Menard, No. 21 Menards/Tarkett Ford, 403, , , 21, Running, , , 
17) 17, Ryan Newman, No. 31 Waste Masters Solutions/22 in 22 Chevrolet, 403, , , 20, Running, , , 
18) 20, Jamie McMurray, No. 1 GEARWRENCH Chevrolet, 402, , , 19, Running, , , 
19) 22, William Byron #, No. 24 Hendrick Autoguard Chevrolet, 402, , , 18, Running, , , 
20) 28, Matt Kenseth, No. 6 Wyndham Rewards Ford, 402, , , 17, Running, , , 
21) 25, Regan Smith, No. 95 Dumont JETS Chevrolet, 401, , , 16, Running, , , 
22) 24, AJ Allmendinger, No. 47 Kroger ClickList Chevrolet, 400, , , 15, Running, , , 
23) 29, Bubba Wallace #, No. 43 World Wide Technology Chevrolet, 399, , , 14, Running, , , 
24) 26, David Ragan, No. 38 MDS Transport Ford, 399, , , 13, Running, , , 
25) 23, Chris Buescher, No. 37 Scott Products Chevrolet, 399, , , 12, Running, , , 
26) 27, Michael McDowell, No. 34 Love's Travel Stops Ford, 399, , , 11, Running, , , 
27) 31, Matt DiBenedetto, No. 32 Can-Am/Wholey Ford, 397, , , 10, Running, , , 
28) 12, Alex Bowman (P), No. 88 Axalta Chevrolet, 396, , , 9, Accident, , , 
29) 30, Ty Dillon, No. 13 GEICO Chevrolet, 396, , , 8, Running, , , 
30) 33, Corey LaJoie, No. 72 Factor One Source Chevrolet, 394, , , 7, Running, , , 
31) 37, * Jeffrey Earnhardt, No. 96 Xtreme Concepts/iK9 Toyota, 394, , , 6, Running, , , 
32) 35, JJ Yeley(i), No. 23 Toyota, 392, , , 0, Running, , , 
33) 34, Landon Cassill(i), No. 00 StarCom Fiber Chevrolet, 390, , , 0, Running, , , 
34) 36, BJ McLeod(i), No. 51 Jacob Companies Ford, 389, , , 0, Running, , , 
35) 5, Clint Bowyer (P), No. 14 Haas VF1/Rush Truck Centers Ford, 388, 4, 2, 18, Accident, 1, 1, 
36) 13, Jimmie Johnson, No. 48 Lowe's for Pros Chevrolet, 387, , , 1, Running, , , 
37) 32, Ross Chastain(i), No. 15 Use Your Melon Drive Sober Chevrolet, 314, , , 0, Rear Gear, , , 
38) 39, * Harrison Rhodes, No. 52 The Medicine Shoppe Chevrolet, 308, , , 1, Brakes, , , 
39) 38, * Timmy Hill(i), No. 66 Ternio Toyota, 35, , , 0, Transmission, , , 

(i) Ineligible for driver points in this series , (#) Rookie, (P) Playoffs qualified

Total Race Length - 404 Laps - 404. Miles1. - Mile Concrete
Time of Race: 3 Hrs, 18 Mins, 2 Secs.
Average Speed: 122.404 MPH
Margin of Victory: 0.265 Seconds
Stage 1 Top 10:4, 22, 18, 14, 9, 2, 12, 41, 10, 78
Stage 2 Top 10:4, 14, 78, 22, 10, 41, 18, 11, 9, 2
Race Comments: Chase Elliott won the Gander Outdoors 400 at Dover International Speedway, his second victory in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series.
Prior to the start of the race, the following cars dropped to the rear of the field under penalty for the reasons indicated:No. 43 (failed pre- race inspection). 

Caution Flags:5 for 31 laps
Laps:122-128 (Stage 1 Conclusion [88])
242-247 (Stage 2 Conclusion [88])
340-348 (Debris Turn 3 and 4 [4])
393-396 (No. 14 Incident Turn 3 [17])
398-402 (No. 2,88,10, 78, 12 Incident Backstretch [Red Flag 4:59] [42]).
Lead Changes:15 among 8 drivers
K. Busch (P) 1-15
K. Harvick (P) 16-74
R. Stenhouse Jr. 75-81
K. Harvick (P) 82-126
J. Logano (P) 127-128
K. Harvick (P) 129-189
B. Keselowski (P) 190
K. Busch (P) 191-194
K. Harvick (P) 195-242
C. Bowyer (P) 243
K. Harvick (P) 244-320
K. Busch (P) 321-322
A. Almirola (P) 323-341
B. Keselowski (P) 342-348
A. Almirola (P) 349-393
C. Elliott (P) 394-404.
American Ethanol Green Flag Restart Award:Kevin Harvick, No. 4 
Busch Pole Award:Kurt Busch, No. 41 203.361 mph
Fastest Lap:Kevin Harvick, No. 4 
Mahle Clevite Engine Builder of the Race:Roush-Yates Engines, No. 4 
Mobil 1 Performance and Protection:Erik Jones, No. 20 
Moog Go the Extra Mile:Kyle Busch, No. 18 crew chief Adam Stevens, 0.057 seconds
Sunoco Rookie of the Race:William Byron, No. 24