Chase Elliott's most heartbreaking Daytona 500 losses

In 10 Daytona 500 starts, 2020 NASCAR Cup Series champion and 21-time Cup Series winner Chase Elliott has been unable to do something his father, Bill, did twice — win the Daytona 500. 

NASCAR's biggest prize has eluded Elliott so far, but he'll look to change that when he makes his 11th start in the ''Great American Race'' on Feb. 15. 

Here are Elliott's three most heartbreaking losses in the Daytona 500.

2017: It falls apart in the closing laps

In just his second 500 start, Elliott, who won the Daytona 500 pole for the second straight year in 2017, was the captain of the proverbial Daytona ship in the closing laps.

The then-21-year-old driver spent 39 laps out front and was leading with 2.5 laps to go. But with fuel running low, his No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet stumbled, forcing him out of the lead. 

All Elliott could do was watch as Kurt Busch eventually took the win. Elliott, who at that point was still winless in the Cup Series, would have to wait until August 2018 at Watkins Glen to earn his first Cup Series victory.

2021: An unexpected runner-up

Elliott's HMS Chevy was not particularly strong in 2021. He qualified uncharacteristically poorly for a Hendrick Chevy at Daytona (12th) and led only three laps. 

But when the chips were down, Elliott found himself in position for a solid top-10 result as he began his title defense. 

The race would flip on its head with less than half a lap to go, however, as the Penske teammates of Joey Logano and Brad Keselowski crashed entering Turn 3. As Michael McDowell took the lead, Elliott hustled to try to snag the top spot as the caution flag flew. 

McDowell was in front when the yellow came out, giving Elliott a runner-up finish he likely didn't see coming.

2020: Empty laps up front

Elliott's 2020 season culminated with a championship, but it didn't get off to a title-worthy start. After qualifying 25th for the 2020 Daytona 500, Elliott had to work his way through the pack and eventually led 23 laps. 

While he was up front late in the event, he was shuffled back to 17th in a race that kicked off an eventual championship season for the Dawsonville, Georgia, native.