William Clyde in the Clyde Hart? Yep. Chase Elliott will race at New Smyrna on Feb. 13.
New Smyrna Speedway's World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing got a jolt of star power when Chase Elliott added himself to the entry list for the Feb. 13 Clyde Hart Memorial.
The 2020 NASCAR Cup Series champion will drive for FR8 Racing with the organization making an official announcement on X on Friday.
The Tuesday night race sits in the middle of New Smyrna's Feb. 8-17, 58th annual World Series. The Clyde Hart Memorial precedes NASCAR's Daytona Speedweek, which begins the following day with pole qualifying for the Daytona 500.
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So far, the race's entry list includes several short-track stars — including Ty Majeski, Bubba Pollard and Caden Kvapil — but no other NASCAR regulars. Elliott's Hendrick Motorsports teammate William Byron won the last two Clyde Hart Memorials with Ryan Preece, Johnny Sauter and Stewart Friesen also making appearances in the last two years.
The 200-lap feature pays $15,000 to win.
Elliott is no stranger to short-track one-offs, making two starts in the ASA STARS National Tour a year ago. He finished sixth in a race at Hickory Motor Speedway and third at North Wilkesboro. Last year, he finished no better than seventh at a short track in the Cup Series season with two top-10s in six starts.
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
Other short-track racing near Daytona can be found in Barberville, where the DirtCar Nationals will run each night from Feb. 5-17 on the hard-packed, high-banked clay of Volusia Speedway Park.
Volusia Speedway Park, Barberville
Feb. 5-17: Federated Auto Parts DirtCar Nationals. Series on the schedule include DirtCar UMP Modifieds, World of Outlaws Sprints, DirtCar Late Models, USAC Non-winged Sprints, Super DirtCar Series, World of Outlaws Late Models.
More information: VolusiaSpeedwayPark.com
New Smyrna Speedway
Feb. 8: World Series practice night.
Feb. 9-17: World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing. Divisions include Super Late Models, Pro Late Models, Modifieds, ASA Stars National Series.
More information: NewSmyrnaSpeedway.org
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Chase Elliott to race at New Smyrna Speedway ahead of Daytona 500
