It’s the 2002 Pennsylvania 500 at the Pocono Raceway and Awesome Bill from Dawsonville has a special supporter in the stands, his seven-year-old son Chase Elliott, ready to watch his father dominate the race. And what a showing it is! Despite losing the lead to Ricky Rudd in turn 1, Bill Elliott manages a lap 9 comeback on the red flag restart, but the job’s not done! Elliott loses the lead once again and it’s another chase to get the win, one that becomes even sweeter for Bill. 33 years later, with his son competing in the Cup Series and fighting for wins,
With over a decade in the sport, it’s not just the wins and trophies that have defined him. Now, Chase Elliott reflected on his NASCAR journey.
Chase Elliott’s reflection on his career, as he nears the 30 year mark, brings a lot of insight into the evolution of his journey. “Yeah, it’s just honestly crazy that it’s been that long, to be honest. It’s just gone by so fast. Every year has felt so different to me. I think people look at careers and they think of just this one big storybook, with every year being a different chapter. And to me, it’s almost like every year is its own book. That’s how different the seasons feel to me,” Elliott said.
And it’s clear how each season has offered something unique. His career highlight – the 2020 NASCAR Cup Championship win – along with multiple wins and playoff appearances over the years, has only elevated his status. In the following year, he was moments away from a back-to-back Cup Series Championship when the Phoenix race left him out of contention. Turn to 2022, and fans saw a repeat of 2021, except the year became remembered for Elliott’s five magnificent wins from the season.
But there have been tough periods for the driver as well. With a suspension after tangling with Denny Hamlin and a broken foot, Chase Elliott sat out most of the season, and while the races he ran did show potential, it was a season to forget. Yet, did Elliott let it demotivate him? Not a chance. He took the learning opportunity, emphasized by his words from the end of the 2023 season. “Looking back on it, I don’t think being out and my injury is the reason for that. As I learn more about my season and myself and how things have unfolded, I feel like my struggles and the things I’ve fought through this year I was starting to fight through last year, too. I kind of picked up where I left off last season and I was going to have those things to work through regardless. That was another bump in the road that I would have rather not gone through.”
BROOKLYN, MICHIGAN – AUGUST 18: Chase Elliott, driver of the #9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet, waves to fans as he walks onstage during driver intros prior to the NASCAR Cup Series FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan International Speedway on August 18, 2024 in Brooklyn, Michigan. (Photo by Logan Riely/Getty Images)
Now, with years of experience in the bag, there’s one aspect that stays unreal for Elliott. “Just so much changes. I mean, I was 20 or 21 years old my first year, and now I’m almost 30 and just like — for everyone standing here that is almost 30 years old or older than 30, how much did your life change from 20 to 30? How much different did you look at things from 20 to 30? That’s just a huge chunk of your life that just makes things feel different, you know?” he said, and that debut was a rollercoaster.
When Elliott made his Cup Series debut at the 2015 STP 500, he was just a 20-year-old kid looking to follow in his father’s footsteps. With no owner’s points and a potential rain-out on the horizon, he barely secured a spot in the race, starting 27th. Although his race didn’t go as planned, with a wreck forcing him to finish 38th, it marked the beginning of his climb into NASCAR stardom.
Looking ahead, Elliott’s story is far from finished. The past decade has shaped him into one of NASCAR’s most consistent and respected drivers. There’s still more to come as the he returns to a road course this weekend.
Chase Elliott gears up for the EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix
Chase Elliott is gearing up for his next race at the EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix at Circuit of The Americas (COTA) on March 2nd. The race has been a mixed bag for Elliott in recent years, but his track record shows potential. In 2021, he clinched his first-ever victory at COTA. The event was cut short by 14 laps due to rain and standing water on the racing surface. Elliott, nonetheless, managed to win the first edition of the Cup Series at COTA.
In 2022, he followed up with a strong performance, finishing 4th. While not another victory, it was a solid result that kept him in contention throughout the race. However, in 2023, Elliott missed the race due to a leg injury. Elliott endured inconsistencies through the entire 2023 season that came from simply missing time due to the injury.
Last year, he made a comeback and gave a decent performance, but it was not up to Elliott’s standards. Qualifying 9th, he ended the race in 16th place. Despite the setback, Elliott’s road racing expertise makes him a contender to watch at COTA. As the 2025 race approaches, will Elliott return to his winning form? Or will he face more challenges on the new ‘National Layout’ tricky circuit? Soon, time will tell. But one thing’s for sure—he’s never one to back down from a fight.
Speaking about his confidence level for the race, Elliott explained, “I think that is the excitement for me is just seeing what that is going to be like. Switching it up. I know everybody’s gonna adapt really quickly as they always do and nowadays we have opportunities with simulators and things of that nature to get your bearings. So I intend on taking advantage of that before we get there trying to get a good feeling and lay of the land before the actual race.”
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