Chase Elliott on winning title like father: ‘I don’t think it gets any cooler than that’

AVONDALE, Ariz. — Chase Elliott is the newest NASCAR Cup Series champion after taking the victory in Sunday’s Season Finale 500 at Phoenix Raceway.

The Hendrick Motorsports driver led the most laps, pacing the field on seven occasions for 153 laps.

Elliott, 23, joins his father Bill as the third father-son combination to win championships at NASCAR’s top level (Lee and Richard Petty; Ned and Dale Jarrett).

“I think about last week and the things that [happened] and the emotions that came with that,” Elliott said to The Racing Experts. “I guess a big lesson I learned over the last couple weeks is you believe you can do something, and you put the preparation and you put your head in the right place, you can and accomplish great things.”

Elliott is the 34th different driver to win the NASCAR title and the fifth different driver in the last five years.

Elliott’s title run, coming in his fifth full-time season in the Cup Series, ended with one pole, five wins, 15 Top-5 finishes, 22 Top-10 finishes and 1,247 laps led.

“When I’m dead and gone, and my dad’s dead and gone, he and I will share a championship with the last name Elliott, forever,” Elliott said. “I don’t think it gets any cooler than that, in my opinion.”

SOURCES
Racing-Reference.info