In NASCAR, any win is major. However, a few mean a little more than the others. Chase Elliott has his eyes on a couple of crown jewels. Of course, those four races are the Daytona 500, Coca-Cola 600, Brickyard 400, and Southern 500.
This year, there is a chance for drivers to compete in each of the four crown jewels. The return of the Brickyard 400 is major for NASCAR fans and drivers alike. For Chase Elliott, it means a chance to continue another family legacy.
Bill Elliott, Chase’s father, won the 2002 edition of the race. It was a win that young Chase was able to be a part of, too.
“The one that is more meaningful to me is the Brickyard because I was old enough when my dad won (in 2002) to just very vaguely remember a few little things about it,” Elliott said, via HendrickMotorsports.com.
“To be in the photos and whatnot I thought was cool. That one really hits closest to home for me. The (Coca-Cola) 600 would be great to win. Being partners with Coca-Cola now would make that even more special. We’ve had a couple of really good opportunities to win that race and didn’t. I would love to check the box on all of them. Any race win is a big deal but certainly those are a little bigger.”
If you want to hear a pop from a NASCAR crowd, just see what the fans in the stands do if he ever claims that 600 or Brickyard win for himself. Chase Elliott remains the most popular driver in the Cup Series and that won’t change any time soon.
Chase Elliott Redemption Tour 2024
Nothing ever clicked for Chase Elliott in 0223. After his broken leg, Elliott struggled to find the extra gear required to win races and compete at a high level on a consistent basis. Part of that was injury, part of that was Hendrick not meeting the same standards as in the past.
While William Byron and Kyle Larson went to the Championship 4, Elliott and Alex Bowman did not. It was a down year for half of Hendrick. Still, Elliott is a Cup Series champion – there is no reason to doubt that he can win multiple races and compete for a championship again.
For Elliott, there is still a lot to accomplish in NASCAR. He’s young and could end up being a multi-time champion in his own right. There is that thin line that Elliott rides between representing his family history and making his own legacy. He will once again toe that line in 2024.
Anything less than a Round of 8 appearance will likely be a disappointment. Chase Elliott has a high standard and will try to meet that standard in the new season. He will be at 100% after getting shoulder surgery to pick up a minor issue.
No excuses not to get it done.
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