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Sports

Elliott has Nationwide title in mind at Phoenix

By Sports Network
Published | Updated

Avondale, AZ (SportsNetwork.com) - Chase Elliott could make NASCAR history this weekend at Phoenix International Raceway.

Elliott, the 18-year old son of former NASCAR Cup Series champion Bill Elliott, is on the verge of clinching the driver's championship in the Nationwide Series. He enters Saturday's 200-mile race at Phoenix -- the penultimate event of the season -- with a 48-point lead over second-place and JR Motorsports teammate Regan Smith.

If Elliott, a rookie this season, leaves Phoenix with a 48-point lead or higher, he will clinch the championship, regardless of any other driver's performance at either Phoenix or the Nov. 15 season-finale at Homestead.

Last Saturday, Elliott finished fourth at Texas and added six points to his lead.

He is set to become the first driver in NASCAR national touring series history to claim a series title and rookie-of-the-year honors in the same season.

The Elliotts (Bill and Chase) are destined to become the fourth father/son combo to win NASCAR national series championships, joining the Jarretts (Ned and Dale), Pettys (Lee and Richard) and Earnhardts (Dale and Dale Jr.).

"It would be phenomenal," Chase Elliott said of his opportunity to win the Nationwide Series championship this year. "It would mean the world to me, and not just me, but our team and our sponsors, NAPA, and everybody that makes it happen. We'll give it our best shot to do so.

"We'd still like to have another win or two before the year is out, so that's our main goal. The biggest thing about the points, I think, is keeping it as simple as knowing you get the most points for finishing highest up at the end of the day. I think that's about as simple and as much as you need to worry about it."

Elliott drives the No. 9 Chevrolet for JRM, a Nationwide team co-owned by Sprint Cup Series driver Dale Earnhardt Jr., his sister, Kelley Earnhardt Miller, and NASCAR team owner Rick Hendrick.

Forty-one teams are on the entry list for the DAV 200 Honoring America's Veterans. Alex Bowman, Kyle Busch, Brad Keselowski and Kyle Larson are those Sprint Cup regulars scheduled to compete in this race. Busch has won the last three Nationwide events at Phoenix.

Series: NASCAR Nationwide. Date: Saturday, Nov. 8. Race: DAV 200 Honoring America's Veterans. Site: Phoenix International Raceway. Track: 1-mile oval. Start time: 4 p.m. ET. Laps: 200. Miles: 200. 2013 Winner: Kyle Busch. Television: ESPN. Radio: Motor Racing Network (MRN)/SIRIUS NASCAR Radio.