Chase Elliott drives backward after Texas win that could get him going in the right direction again
Chase Elliott drove backward on the track after an emotional victory that could really get the 2020 Cup champion headed in the right direction again.
Chase Elliott signs 5-year extension before Daytona 500
Chase Elliott skipped the free agency process and agreed to a five-year contract extension with Hendrick Motorsports announced mere hours before the season-opening Daytona 500.
![Under darkness, Almirola pulls off shocker at New Hampshire](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/LH9PXdDKBMppGmMGbord4hlmtv4=/800x533/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/M3XLHTJIHFGPJJWFJM5NBQCAFQ.jpg)
Under darkness, Almirola pulls off shocker at New Hampshire
With darkness closing in, Aric Almirola sprung to life late Sunday at New Hampshire Motor Speedway and pulled off a surprise for Stewart-Haas Racingโs first victory of the year.
![Elliott honors Kulwicki with 1992 championship paint scheme](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/PzQNgRePA36IIgFsIatQUZWUy98=/1600x1140/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/M7CG5LBANRHTDI43E7HNLI6NFU.jpg)
Elliott honors Kulwicki with 1992 championship paint scheme
Chase Elliott will honor the late Alan Kulwicki by racing the same Hooters paint scheme that was on Kulwickis car in the 1992 season finale at Atlanta Motor Speedway when Kulwicki beat Bill Elliott for the Winston Cup title. Chase Elliott will run the paint scheme at Darlington Raceway on May 9, 2021. (AP Photo/John Bazemore, File)CHARLOTTE, N.C. โ Chase Elliott has seen the picture somewhere โ it's hanging in their family shop, Bill Elliott confirms โ of his shaking hands with Alan Kulwicki following the 1992 season finale. Bill Elliott entered the race ranked third out of the six, trailing both Davey Allison and Kulwicki. Because Alan beat Dad that year to win the championship,โ Chase Elliott told The Associated Press.
![AP Was There: Earnhardt killed in 2001 Daytona 500 crash](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/vZSpn5p-DwurS3Y2iBnIf2xIrg8=/1600x1066/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/PPGSY5MMSRCBJDB2LUZMUTBCXY.jpg)
AP Was There: Earnhardt killed in 2001 Daytona 500 crash
โI guess someone got into Dale because Dale got into me and then we went up,โ Schrader said. Weโve lost Dale Earnhardt,โ Helton said. The death of Earnhardt left NASCAR reeling in the wake of a 2000 season in which three of its young stars were killed in separate accidents. All three died of the same type of head injuries that apparently killed Earnhardt. โThe only reason I won this race is Dale Earnhardt,โ Waltrip said.
![Denny Hamlin faces tough field for elusive 1st NASCAR title](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/C4YEvFY1lsGXKEogPD8zyAnjFYo=/1600x1066/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/CVNXZHXHO5H2TF7R2NH4JRC3W4.jpg)
Denny Hamlin faces tough field for elusive 1st NASCAR title
(AP Photo/Ralph Freso, File)AVONDALE, Ariz. โ Denny Hamlin is 0-for-3 in championship chances, his shot at an elusive first NASCAR crown ending just short each time. Hamlin on Sunday will try to close his own career-defining season with the Cup title in NASCAR's season finale at Phoenix Raceway. Chase Elliott last week drove Chevrolet and Hendrick Motorsports back into the championship race for the first time since 2016. The 24-year-old is statistically enjoying his best Cup season and advanced to the final four after three previous failures. The last two times Iโve raced for championships Iโve had no regrets.โHamlin turns 40 exactly 10 days after Sunday's title race and has matured greatly the last several seasons.