Elliott looks to build on ’18 finish
Driver’s season-ending run in playoffs could be impetus for big year
DAYTONA BEACH — Chase Elliott knew winning was just a matter of time.
In a sport predicated on speed, it’s not always easy to slow down expectations.
“I wanted to win from the getgo,” he said. “You come along, I think you realize how difficult it is, racing against the best on Sundays. It’s not Friday, it’s certainly not Saturday. “It’s the real deal.” Elliott himself was considered the real deal when he joined the Cup Series in 2016 as a 20-year-old.
Elliott’s talent, pedigree and financial backing would help him become the Daytona 500’s youngest pole-sitter and earn Rookie of the Year honors.
But until he broke through to win last August at Watkins Glen, a race shy of his 100th, Elliott had to
explain week after week what it was going to take to reach Victory Lane at NASCAR’s highest level.
“Just nice that that question is eliminated, at least for a little while,” the 23-year-old said this week. “Yeah, I mean, if it wasn’t that, it’s, ‘When are you going to win again?’ It’s always going to be something.”
The next question for Elliott comes Sunday at Daytona International Speedway.
Elliott picked up two more wins in a three-week span at the tail end of the 2018 season, finishing two spots out of the final four in the NASCAR Cup Playoff. Everyone now is eager to see whether he build on the momentum and follow in his Hall of Fame father Bill’s footsteps by winning the sport’s pre-eminent race.
Elliott expects nothing less of himself this week — and for the rest of the season.
“I think the important thing now … just winning and winning often,” Elliott said. “The guys that are good, the guys you see in the final four, they win and they win all the time. When they have their car right and they execute, you know they’re going to be one of the guys to beat. That’s who myself and our team want to be.
“I think it’s certainly achievable.”
Elliott’s No. 9 Chevrolet has shown plenty of potential on the sport’s most famous speedway.
In six races at Daytona International Speedway, Elliott has won the pole three times — the 2016 and 2017 500 and last July’s Coke Zero 400.
Each time, though, Elliott failed to capitalize in races where teamwork, a sound pit crew and good fortune are even more important raw speed. A 14th-place showing to open the 2017 season is the only time he even finished a race at Daytona as its pole-sitter.
Elliott’s average finish of 29th at Daytona ranks last among the 24 active tracks where he’s raced.
Elliott’s 2019 Speedweeks did not get off to a promising start, either. During last Saturday’s practice session, he lost control of his car and caused a multicar crash. A day later, Elliott was caught up in a multi-car crash during the Advance Auto Parts Clash.
If last season’s late flourish is any indication, Elliott eventually will figure out the winning formula wherever he’s behind the wheel.
“I think that’s really important in our sport,” said Ryan Blaney, Elliott’s close friend. “Once he got that first one out of the way he was going to win a ton more. He has no problem winning races.”
Elliott was brought up in the sport by one of its biggest winners.
Bill Elliott’s 44 victories, including the 1985 and 1987 Daytona 500, rank 18th all time. Just as impressive are the 16 Most Popular Driver titles for the “Bill from Dawsonville.”
Despite his father’s immense popularity, Chase Elliott was humbled to earn his first one at the end of last season.
Sometimes, winning isn’t the only thing.
“From my perspective, I’m like, Why me?” Elliott said. “I think the votes are cool, the trophy is cool to have, but there’s nothing cooler than seeing the hats and the T-shirts, people cheering for you on Sundays. That’s part of something I’ll never forget. If I never win it again, that will be the coolest piece from 2018, from the fans’ perspective.
“I certainly noticed it.”