Chase Elliott had power, but not in the right places

BRISTOL, TN - APRIL 07: Chase Elliott, driver of the #9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet, races during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway on April 7, 2019 in Bristol, Tennessee. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

It was a frustrating day for pole winner Chase Elliott as the Hendrick Motorsports driver lost the power steering in his No. 9 Chevrolet barely 20 laps into the race, then was involved in an incident just shy of the halfway point of the 500-lap race.

Despite the setbacks, he was still contending for a spot in the top 10 when his car hit the wall with less than 70 laps remaining. He led the first 38 laps of the race, finished 11th and on the lead lap, but saw a good day otherwise ruined.

“Definitely not what we started out hoping for,” he admitted. “We got turned late in the race, that was about it. We fell behind from there.

“I had a great car, even without the power steering.”

Greg Engle