How’s this for a little pressure to perform: Chase Elliott is the son of a NASCAR Hall of Fame driver and 1988 racing champion Bill Elliott. He is the the driver that will be taking over the historic #24 of Jeff Gordon. He is now teammates with future Hall of Fame driver Jimmy Johnson and the most popular driver in the Sprint Cup series, Dale Earnhardt Jr. He was the choice for the 11-time NASCAR championship team Hendrick Motor Sports to fill a legend’s shoes.
To prepare for his rookie season, Chase Elliott made five Sprint Cup starts in the NAPA #25 car in 2015. Kasey Kahne’s crew chief Kenny Francis oversaw his efforts. His best qualifying and finishing position was 16th at Richmond International Speedway. The rookie driver participated in the driver’s competition meetings in 2015 to help him learn to feel out the process. He also got acclimated with his new team while testing the new Goodyear tires at Miami-Homestead using the new low-down force cars.
The young phenom will be driving under the sponsorship of NAPA Auto Parts for 24 races, 3M for 3 races and Kelly Bluebook for two more. The rest of the races are to be filled by a sponsor to be named later.
Chase has done everything he can to put himself into a position to be successful, but now he has to drive his way in 2016 to prove he belongs. So why Chase Elliott? Well let’s take a little look into what got the second generation, Dawsonville. Georgia, prodigy in position to make his mark on the biggest stage in racing.
Elliott has shown the ability to do some great things early in his career. Prior to his first entrance into the NASCAR Xfinity Series, Chase enjoyed a rapid rise through super late models and other national touring divisions. The Georgia Hall of Fame named him the 2013 Driver of the Year, after winning the All-American 400 at historic Nashville Fairgrounds. That race made Chase Elliott the first driver to win all four super late model majors.
Hendrick Motor Sports signed Elliott in 2011 and, a year later, Elliott scored his first NASCAR K&N series victory on May 19th, 2012. Only a year later, he became the youngest super speedway winner in ARCA (Automobile Racing Club of America) history at Pocono Raceway on June 8th, 2013. His intro into NASCAR’s Camping World Truck Series saw Elliot become the youngest winner in series history in only his sixth start-Sept. 1, 2013 at Canadian Tire Motor Park.
With all the early success it was decided to test the young prospect and move him into NASCAR’s Xfinity Series, a proving ground for NASCAR’s big stage. Elliott at the old age of 18, went on to win three races and collect two poles, and finish in the top ten in 26 of the 33 races. The resume’ was good enough for Rookie of the Year honors and a 2014 Xfinity championship, racing with JR Motorsports. Chase became the first driver ever to win a series championship and Sunoco Rookie of the year in the same season. He also was voted as the fan’s most favorite driver. The following year was a bit of a “let-down”. Elliott only managed to rank second in points and a runner-up spot to Chris Buescher.
With the early success in his career, one might think it’s a given that Elliot will flourish in 2016. But don’t let all the past achievement fool you. NASCAR’s Sprint Cup Series is a whole other animal. Many young drivers over the past five decades have had to wait their time before experiencing a fruitful outcome. His father, Bill Elliott, went 115 starts before he got his first victory. Jeff Gordon, four-time NASCAR champion, had to race 41 before collecting his.
Unquestionably, Chase Elliott will be one of the favorites to become NASCAR’s 2016 Rookie of the Year, taking over for the 24 car driven by Jeff Gordon for more than thirty plus years. Elliott has yet to record a top ten finish in his five Sprint Cup starts, but with a XFinity championship under his belt and the experience of proven racing veterans to rely on, the two-time Xfinity Most Popular Driver is poised to stake his claim 2016.
