Chase Elliott, the modern-day maestro of road courses, is known for his prowess when navigating twisting circuits. With seven road course wins to his name, he’s only surpassed by legends Tony Stewart and Jeff Gordon. However, in the lead-up to the playoff elimination race at the Charlotte Roval, Chase Elliott didn’t hold back when asked about his thoughts on the unconventional track.

Chase Elliott’s road course expertise is undeniable. But he doesn’t consider himself the road racing prodigy that some fans make him out to be. Even in the past, the driver of the No. 9 has been vocal about how people are wrong to consider him a gifted road course racer and has often attributed his perceived dominance on road courses to the dominant machinery that the driver has been given.

Elliott outlines all the problems and compares the Charlotte Roval with the Chicago Street Circuit

Chase Elliott may not be fighting for his own place in the playoffs, but he is very much in the fight for the Owner’s Championship. The #9 team currently sits in the 4th spot in the owner’s standings. And Chase Elliott certainly needs a strong performance at Roval to make sure his team stays on the hunt.

During the media conference ahead of the race, Elliott was asked, “The Roval is unique because it’s really not a natural terrain Road Course. Is the driving skill here more similar to a street race?”

The driver of the No. 9 Chevy was quick to differentiate. He humorously quipped, “Aside from Chicago, I haven’t really done any street racing. It’s much different than Chicago. This place, it’s a lot crammed into. Not a lot of space is how it feels. It’s like you’re racing in a parking lot or something.”

He continued, “This is just tight, and it’s hard to find a rhythm. It’s definitely unique. But we’ve been coming here for a few years now. So there is a little bit of normalcy in the track and the course. It’s a challenge. With road racing, it’s extremely important to find a rhythm. And this is a hard place to do that.”

While the spotlight was on Chase Elliott for his racing skills, it was a different Elliott who took center stage in a recent ceremony at the Charlotte Motor Speedway. Who was it?

Chase Elliott opens up about the honor received by his uncle Ernie

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Chase Elliott’s uncle, the legendary Ernie Elliott, received the prestigious Smokey Yunick Award. An honor reserved for individuals who have made significant contributions to NASCAR from humble beginnings. Ernie Elliott’s legacy traces back to the 1980s, when he partnered with his brother Bill Elliott, creating a formidable duo that dominated NASCAR with numerous victories. Their collaboration culminated in Bill Elliott clinching the NASCAR Cup Series championship in 1988. Among his accolades, Ernie was named Engine Builder of the Year in 1985 and Engine Builder of the Decade for the 1980s.

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Chase Elliott, accepting the award on his uncle’s behalf, shared his thoughts on his remarkable achievements and the iconic 1985 season. While Chase wasn’t born during that era of NASCAR history, he expressed his admiration as he said, “I wasn’t born, but I have heard a lot about it. I’m glad to see Uncle Ernie get that award because I know he has a lot of respect for Smokey. He talks about him quite a lot, and he just had a lot of respect for him.”

Reflecting on the unconventional methods employed by Ernie and his team, Chase highlighted the uniqueness of those years. He remarked, “Those years were extremely special. Just how they went about and how they did things was such a departure from everybody else. They were kind of on their own little island, but they were smart enough and they knew enough about cars and engines and driving to go and do it their own way and to be successful doing it.”

While Chase Elliott missed experiencing that historic era firsthand, he acknowledged its significance and the impact his uncle Ernie had on NASCAR’s rich history. He added, “When I think about those years, I wish I was old enough to be a part of it and recognize it and appreciate it. But I certainly try to do that now.” Chase Elliott continues to make his mark on the modern NASCAR landscape. But he also takes pride in honoring the remarkable achievements of his uncle Ernie, a true legend in the sport’s history.

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