After a week off for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, Dawsonville's Chase Elliott had a busy weekend at the Sonoma Raceway.

Elliott, in an effort to get some time on a track he had yet to race on, entered the K&N Pro Series West race and qualified at the pole.

The rookie driver qualified in the 16th spot for Sunday's Sprint Cup race before competing in the K&N.

The first road race course of the season for the Sprint Cup Series meant logging as much time on the 12 turn track as possible-including enlisting the help of his Hall of Fame dad Bill Elliott as a second spotter.

The hilly course was a favorite of Elliott's predecessor in the No. 24 car, Jeff Gordon. Gordon holds the record for most wins as well as most poles at the track.

During the Chevys Fresh Mex 200, he dropped out of the top spot to race in second during a full-course caution.

He would take the lead again in turn seven of the course.

Elliott's team offered pointers over the radio to make it through the left and right hand turns as he would stay near the top throughout the race before eventually winning.

On Sunday, Elliott raced to the 21st spot in the Save Mart 350.

In the No. 24 3M Chevrolet SS, he was the highest finishing rookie of the day.

Tony Stewart took the green flag on Sunday after saying before the race how much it would mean to him to win it knowing this would be his last time to run it. The win also broke an 84 race win drought for the seasoned driver.

After the start, Elliott fell to the 20th spot and would gradually make his way back to 10th as drivers began to make pit stops. He was as high as fifth place before he had to take his own green-flag stop.

With 65 laps left, a caution flag flew due to debris on the track. At that point Elliott was inside the top 15.

Elliott used the caution for a pit stop and dropped back below 20.

For much of the second half, he would remain in the 22nd spot.

Teammate Kasey Kahne took the ninth spot over all. Dale Earnhardt Jr. raced to an 11th place finish and Jimmie Johnson was 13th. Elliott finished the day at 21.

The next Sprint Cup Series race is the Coke Zero 400 at 7:45 p.m. July 2 at the Daytona International Speedway. The race will be broadcast on NBC.