via Getty
DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 13: Chase Elliott, driver of the #9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet, stands on the grid during the NASCAR Cup Series Bluegreen Vacations Duel 1 at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images)
via Getty
DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 13: Chase Elliott, driver of the #9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet, stands on the grid during the NASCAR Cup Series Bluegreen Vacations Duel 1 at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images)
The 2020 Cup Series championship has concluded with Chase Elliott winning the title. In the process, he followed in the footsteps of his father, Bill Elliott. He and Bill also become the third father-son duo to win a Cup Series championship, after Lee and Richard Petty and Ned and Dale Jarrett.
However, the 24-year-old could also set another record. He is on the verge of being the first Cup champion to also win the popular driver vote in the same season. Without a doubt, Chase Elliott is a hugely popular driver in the NASCAR community, and evidently among the fans as well.
If Chase Elliott wins the most popular driver voting this year, he would be the first since his father in 1988 to win both most popular driver and the Cup title in the same year.
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) November 8, 2020
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“When I’m dead and gone and my dad is dead and gone, he and I will share a championship with the last name Elliott forever,” he said. “I don’t think it gets any cooler than that.”
Chase Elliott faced a lot of adversity to win the title
Admittedly, Chase Elliott probably felt like Sisyphus, as he was supposed to start from pole position. However, his car failed post-race inspection on both occasions and got dumped to the back of the grid.
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USA Today via Reuters
Nov 8, 2020; Avondale, Arizona, USA; NASCAR driver Chase Elliott celebrates with the checkered flag after winning the NASCAR Cup Series Championship at Phoenix Raceway. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
In the face of adversity, he carved his way up the order, with the ease of carving a Thanksgiving turkey. Somehow or the other, he managed to win the race and take the championship.
With regard to the Popular Driver moniker, Elliott Sr won it a record 16 times. Meanwhile, Chase has grabbed that title on two occasions, as well as having the record for being the youngest Xfinity Series champion. Now, the 24-year-old has handed Hendrick Motorsports (HMS) its first championship since Jimmie Johnson’s seventh and last title in 2016.
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Elliott confessed that it felt surreal to win his maiden championship and succeed Johnson as the next HMS champion. This coincided with the fact that the Phoenix race was the seven-time champion’s last race in NASCAR. According to Chase Elliott, those are moments that can only be dreamed about, and he made it a reality.
