Hendrick Motorsports has adjusted its NASCAR Xfinity Series schedule for 2023, adding a fifth race at Pocono Raceway on July 22. Chase Elliott will pilot the No. 17 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Camaro in the Explore The Pocono Mountains 225, marking his first Xfinity Series start since August 2021 .
Initially, the No. 17 car was slated for four races, focusing on road courses to provide opportunities for Hendrick’s full-time Cup Series drivers. However, Pocono was added to the schedule to offer Elliott additional track time, especially since he is the defending NASCAR Cup Series winner at the 2.5-mile “Tricky Triangle” .
Elliott, the 2014 Xfinity Series champion, has five career victories in the series, all with JR Motorsports. In 82 starts, he boasts 34 top-five finishes and 66 top-10s. His return to the Xfinity Series at Pocono is a strategic move to gain more laps on the track ahead of the upcoming Cup Series race there .
The Pocono race is part of Hendrick Motorsports’ expanded Xfinity Series program, which includes entries at various tracks throughout the season. This initiative aims to provide valuable experience for the team’s drivers and strengthen their overall performance across NASCAR’s tiers .
Fans can watch Elliott’s Xfinity Series return at Pocono on Saturday, July 22, at 5:30 p.m. ET on USA Network, the NBC Sports App, MRN Radio, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Channel 90) .
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