Chase Elliott took a long path to a berth in Saturday night’s NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race.
Elliott was runner-up in two segments of the Sprint Showdown — a win in either would have locked him into the field — including through an epic battle in the final lap overall.
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His car banged up, his fans pumped by the style of racing he brought to that final 10-lap shootout, Elliott was almost immediately announced as the winner of the Sprint Fan Vote and, therefore, a berth in the race after all.