Elliott looks for first NASCAR win in disappointing season
It's been a year since Chase Elliott won a Cup Series race, a drought that played a role in NASCAR's most popular driver missing the playoffs in what's guaranteed to be the worst season of his career.
As Elliott returns for today's race at Talladega Superspeedway, site of his last victory, there's no sugarcoating his season.
“I am disappointed in his season, for sure,” team owner Rick Hendrick told The Associated Press. “I think Chase is an unbelievable talent, the most popular driver, under a lot of pressure from the fans, not as much from the sponsors — they want to win. I feel like he deserves to win races, he's got the talent. So we've just got to get him in that position.”
It fell apart for Elliott before the third race of the season when he broke his leg in a snowboarding accident in Colorado ahead of the race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Elliott missed six races to put him in an enormous hole, and then he was suspended for a seventh for intentionally wrecking Denny Hamlin in the Coca-Cola 600 in May.
He spent the rest of the regular season desperately trying to win a race to avoid missing out on the playoffs for the first time in his career. Elliott failed to qualify — his 35-race winless streak dates to last fall's Talladega race — and a career-worst 17th is the best he can finish in the final Cup standings. The 2020 champion never has finished lower than 10th and made it to the title-deciding finale the last three years.
Hendrick has given Elliott a directive to win a race before the end of the season to carry momentum into 2024.
“I'm disappointed. I'm disappointed for him. I'm disappointed for his sponsors,” Hendrick told the AP. “But at the same time, I've told him: `Look, we're in this for the long haul. I hope you are going to retire here. And we're going
to win championships and races. And this was something that set us back.'
“But you know, I can't tell the guys they can't have a life on a snowboard, and (s—-) happens.”
While not eligible for the driver championship, Elliott can still win an owner's title for Hendrick Motorsports, which last week celebrated its 300th Cup win when William Byron won at Texas to become the first driver to advance into the round of eight of the playoffs.
Elliott's No. 9 Chevrolet goes into today's race ranked ninth, two points behind Hendrick teammate Kyle Larson and one point ahead of Tyler Reddick of 23XI Racing. Just like in the drivers' playoffs, eight cars advance to the next round of the owners' championship.
Meanwhile, Aric Almirola gave Stewart-Haas Racing a much-needed boost as Ford drivers swept the top three spots and seven of the top 10 in qualifying for today's race. Reigning Cup champion Joey Logano of Team Penske was second, one spot ahead of SHR's Chase Briscoe.
Golf
ROOKIE RYU TAKES LPGA LEAD >> LPGA Tour rookie Hae Ran Ryu shot another bogey-free 7-under 64 to push her lead to two strokes in the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship,
leaving Lexi Thompson six strokes back with a round left.
Ryu played her final nine at Pinnacle Country Club in 5-under 31 with birdies on Nos. 3-6 and 9. Seeking her first LPGA Tour victory, the 22-year-old South Korean player was the LPGA Q-Series medalist last year.
Tour rookie Yuna Nishimura of Japan and Hannah Green of Australia were tied for second at 12 under. Nishimura shot 64, and Green had her second 65.
NBA HORNETS' JONES OUT FOR `PERSONAL REASONS' >>
The Charlotte Hornets announced that 2021 firstround draft pick Kai Jones will not participate in training camp due to personal reasons.
“There is not currently a timetable for his return to the team,” the Hornets said in a statement. “Out of respect for the personal nature of the situation, the Hornets will not have any additional public comments regarding the matter at this time.”
The forward/center had a bizarre post on Instagram Live where he danced and rambled incoherently. He has also repeatedly stated that he's the GOAT (greatest of all time) and plans to be MVP and defensive player of the year, along with writing that he would beat Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James in a 1-on-1 game.
Hornets coach Steve Clifford said last week that Jones has not been participating in the team's voluntary workouts, but wouldn't comment further.
After the news, Jones took to X, formerly Twitter, and wrote “my intuition is telling me there will be better days. #GOATLIFE” along with a series of emojis.
Jones, the 19th pick in the 2021 NBA draft out of Texas, averaged 2.7 points during his first two seasons in the NBA.
NHL DUCKS' KILLORN OUT 4-6 WEEKS >>
New Anaheim Ducks forward Alex Killorn will be sidelined for four to six weeks with a broken finger, the team announced.
Killorn was injured Wednesday night in an exhibition game against San Jose. He signed a four-year, $25 million deal with Anaheim in July after playing the previous 11 seasons with the Tampa Bay Lightning.
The 34-year-old Killorn won two Stanley Cup championships and scored 198 goals with Tampa Bay. He was signed to bring a winning veteran presence to the Ducks, who have missed the playoffs in a franchise-record five consecutive seasons.
Tennis MEDVEDEV ADVANCES IN CHINA OPEN >>
Third-ranked Daniil Medvedev showed composure to overcome a characteristically tenacious Alex de Minaur, and secure a spot in the quarterfinals of the China Open.
The second-seeded Medvedev emerged with a 7-6 (3), 6-3 win in Beijing.
The Russian will next face Ugo Humbert on Monday, after the Frenchman upset fifth-seeded Andrey Rublev 5-7, 6-3, 7-6 (3).
JABEUR WINS NINGBO OPEN >>
Top-seeded Ons Jabeur won her fifth career title at the Ningbo Open with a 6-2, 6-1 victory over teenager Diana Shnaider in China.