What’s up with Bristol talk by Chase Elliott after Watkins Glen?

WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. — In the moments after his frustrating loss Sunday to teammate Kyle Larson at Watkins Glen International, Chase Elliott repeatedly said he was looking ahead to Bristol.

Bristol? That’s next month, not next week. 

Elliott referenced Bristol in his interview with NBC Sports’ Dave Burns after the race and said it a couple of times in the media center. Elliott caught himself after he was asked a question about Saturday night’s race at Daytona International Speedway (7 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock).

“I don’t know why I keep saying Bristol,” Elliott said. “We’re going to Daytona. My bad. For some reason I had Bristol on my mind. I don’t know why.”

Chalk it up to an honest mistake for a driver fuming over Larson’s actions on the final restart.

But that it was Bristol that came to mind for Elliott was interesting. It was there last year that Elliott helped Larson win that playoff race. Could Elliott’s reference to Bristol been a subtle reminder of how good a teammate he had been to Larson there last year? Or just that Bristol is the next short track and a potential place for payback?

In last year’s playoff race there, Elliott and Kevin Harvick made contact while racing for the lead with 35 laps left. Elliott had to pit for a flat tire. When he returned to the track, Elliott hit Harvick’s car and then stayed in front of Harvick. That allowed Larson to catch Harvick and pass him for the win. 

“It kept me in the game,” Larson said that night of Elliott’s actions toward Harvick.

Since then, it’s easy for Elliott fans to wonder when their driver might be helped by Larson. 

Sunday’s race marked the second time this season that Larson has won at the expense of Elliott.

At Auto Club Speedway in February, Larson dueled