No. 9 Nascar Camaro Blocks To Win At Atlanta July 2022: Video

There’s something special about a driver winning a Cup Series race at their home track, and Georgia native Chase Elliott did exactly that on Sunday at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Elliott, driver of the No. 9 Nascar Camaro, never strayed far from the front of the pack throughout the race, blocking a charge from Corey LaJoie’s No. 7 Camaro and fending off Ross Chastain in the No. 1 Camaro on his way to victory.

Elliott’s No. 9 Camaro started on the pole after qualifying was rained out, but Chastain’s No. 1 Chevy slipped by him to lead early. However, after Chastain got loose from contact with the No. 11 Toyota TRD Camry of Denny Hamlin, Elliott’s No. 9 Camaro assumed the lead to win Stage 1. During Stage 2, the No. 19 Toyota TRD Camry driven by Martin Truex Jr. entered the picture for the race lead and did battle with Elliott’s No. 9 Chevy and Chastain’s No. 1 Chevy. Chastain got into Truex’s rear bumper and sent the No. 19 Camry for a spin, triggering a major incident that left some drivers angry with Chastain’s move.

Meanwhile, Elliott’s No. 9 Camaro continued to stay near the front of the field and crossed the line ahead of Tyler Reddick in the No. 8 Camaro to take the Stage 2 win. Chastain’s No. 1 Camaro wasn’t done, though, as he clawed his way back to the front of the field, triggering an incident with the No. 11 Camry of Hamlin once again and angering the Toyota driver. In the final stage of the race, Lajoie’s No. 7 Nascar Camaro became a threat for the race lead, and a thrilling four-way battle for the win unfolded between Elliott’s No. 9 Chevy, Chastain’s No. 1 Chevy, and the No. 19 Camry of Truex, who managed to get back up front after the earlier contact with Chastain.

Elliott threw several blocks as the laps wound down, knocking Truex’s No. 19 Camry high and out of the groove. The threat was then in the hands of Lajoie and the No. 7 Camaro. On the last lap, Lajoie attempted to pass Elliott several times, but Elliott threw the No. 9 Chevy up the track and cut him off, sending Lajoie spinning into the pack and setting off a multicar wreck. Chastain’s No. 1 Camaro looked low, but the race was already official as the yellow flag flew alongside the checkered flag, crowning Elliott the winner for the third time in the 2022 season.

“I’m just so proud,” Elliott said in Victory Lane. “This is obviously home for me and a lot of great fans who made a lot of noise today. Couldn’t be more proud of our team.”

Lajoie was disappointed after Elliott’s block eliminated his chances of securing his first Cup Series win, but he kept his chin up. “Closest I’ve ever been for sure. That was fun,” he said. “I made my move and it didn’t work out.”

# – Rookie
i – Points ineligible
* – Part-time driver

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