Former NASCAR Cup Series champion Chase Elliott has entered the Clyde Hart Memorial at New Smyrna Speedway on Tuesday, February 13, the first race of the 2024 ASA STARS National Tour season.
He’s BACK – we’re excited to have @chaseelliott behind the wheel of a Late Model with FR8 Racing at @newsmyrnaspdwy! Check out the action on Feb. 13th! pic.twitter.com/pgHkt9mnjF
— Fr8Racing (@fr8_racing) February 2, 2024
The Clyde Hart Memorial, sanctioned by the ASA STARS National Tour, ASA Southern Super Series and New Smyrna’s David Rogers Super Late Models, takes place the evening before qualifying night for the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway. Thus, it is an opportunity for NASCAR competitors such as Elliott to take part in the World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing before turning their focus to the Daytona 500.
The last two editions of the Clyde Hart Memorial have been won by Elliott’s NASCAR Cup Series teammate at Hendrick Motorsports, William Byron. Ryan Preece, Johnny Sauter and Stewart Friesen are also among the NASCAR regulars who have taken part in the Clyde Hart Memorial since its move to February and the World Series in 2022.
As for Elliott, it continues a trend of increased participation in Super Late Model events in recent years. Elliott appeared in two ASA STARS National Tour events in 2023, finishing third at North Wilkesboro Speedway and sixth at Hickory Motor Speedway. Like the Clyde Hart Memorial, both of those races were mid-week events leading into NASCAR Cup Series weekends at North Wilkesboro and Charlotte Motor Speedway, respectively.
Elliott also scored a runner-up finish to Bubba Pollard in the Battle at Berlin last August, and finished sixth in the 2023 Slinger Nationals last July.
The Clyde Hart Memorial is part of the World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing, which features nine nights of racing at New Smyrna Speedway. The World Series began in 1968, and celebrates its 58th annual running this year.
[This story originally appeared on Racing America]
Story By Zach Evans, Racing America
