After winning at the Charlotte Roval on Sunday night, Dawsonville native Chase Elliott will travel to the Kansas Speedway this week for the first race of the NASCAR Cup Series Round of Eight playoffs.

There’s one easy way for Elliott to secure a spot in the NASCAR Cup Series Championship on Nov. 8 in Phoenix, Ariz.: win at Kansas Speedway. Any current playoff racer who wins one of the next three races will automatically secure a spot in the championship race. 

Winning at Kansas is not unheard of for the Hendrick Motorsports Number 9 driver either. He won a playoff race in Kansas in 2018 after starting the race in 13th. 

In fact, Elliott’s last four races in Kansas ended in great outcomes. During his first race of 2019, Elliott finished Stage 1 in second place and won Stage 2, finishing the race in 4th place overall. The playoff race in 2019 was equally good for Elliott, who again secured second place in Stage 1 and finished the race in second place. 

During his racing career in Kansas, Elliott started the race 15th place on average and finished the race in 11th and 12th place on average. Elliott’s first race in Kansas was on May 7, 2016. He finished in ninth place. 

Since 2017, Elliott has been driving particularly well in Kansas during the playoffs. His worst finish in that three-year span is fourth. He’s averaged 45.67 points per race during that span. 

“We just can’t get complacent,” Elliott said after his 2018 victory at Kansas about playoff season. “This is a huge time of year. We have a lot of work to do and a long way to go.”

Elliott’s driving as of late gives zero indication of a change in performance for his next race. 

The Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway will be on Oct. 18 at 2:30 p.m.