Wildandfree084

Chase Elliott enters Bowman Gray Stadium as the clear man to beat. Last year, he put on a clinic at "The Madhouse," leading 171 of 200 laps from the pole to secure his first career Clash victory. His ability to navigate the tight quarter-mile corners while managing lapped traffic was the difference-maker against a hard-charging Ryan Blaney. However, history suggests caution for those looking to bet on a repeat. The Clash has seen eight different winners in the last eight years, and there hasn't been a back-to-back winner since Kevin Harvick in 2009??"10. While Elliott’s Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet is the benchmark for short-track speed, the chaotic nature of Bowman Gray??"where the "bump-and-run" is a way of life??"makes defending a title statistically difficult. Still, if he secures a top starting spot, he remains the safest play to win.