NASCAR Sunday: Eckel and his race buddies split between Chase Elliott and Kevin Harvick at Gander RV 400

Chase Elliott is looking for a double-double as NASCAR heads to Dover, Delaware Sunday for the Gander RV 400.

Elliott is looking to win back-to-back races after winning his first race of the season last Sunday at Talladega. The 23-year-old Georgia native is also looking to go back-to-back at Dover after winning here in 2018.

And Elliott will be starting from the pole to do it.

“Team Hendrick is 1-2, which is awesome,” Elliott told NASCAR.com. “Thanks to Chevrolet power and everybody that contributes to our car — they’ve been working hard. Hopefully, we can back it up on Sunday.

“It’s going to be a really tough race, so you better eat your Wheaties these next couple days and hydrate, because I think Sunday is going to be tough, especially if the sun’s out like it is right now. I think track position’s going to be key, and hopefully we can use it to our advantage.”

As expected with a new competition package that features a taller rear spoiler and consequent added downforce, Elliott set a track record at the Monster Mile, covering the distance in 21.692 seconds (165.960 mph) to eclipse Brad Keselowski’s 2014 track record mark of 21.892 seconds (164.444 mph).

Elliott has done well at Dover in his career. He finished third in 2016 and second in 2017 before winning the race last year.

Going back-to-back at Dover isn’t as tough as you might think. In the race’s 47-year history, 12 drivers have won in consecutive years win different time. The last time was Jimmie Johnson in 2009-10.

Chevrolet has also won the race 20 times, including four of the last six years.

Here’s the selections with, as always, the opinions of experts Scott “Tobacco Road’’ Baker and Mike “Left Turn’’ Sweeney.

Chase Elliott (12-1): “Tobacco Road’’ and I are both going with Elliott at generous odds. The numbers suggest he’s going to be right there.

Kevin Harvick (4-1): “Left Turn’’ likes the way Harvick raced all weekend in qualifying and is going with the second-favorite, out of the sixth position, for his first win of the season.

Joey Logano (8-1): This was “Left Turn’s’’ second choice. Logano, who is second in overall points to Kyle Busch, finished third here last year.

Don’t Overlook: Kyle Busch (3-1), Martin Truex (8-1)