Chase Elliott Hints at a Stronger 2024 Season, Sends Heartfelt Message After Biggest Achievement of 2023

Even the worst season of his Cup Series career couldn’t keep Chase Elliott from winning the Most Popular Driver award for the sixth consecutive year. Despite having a poor season, not even making it past the regular season, the 2020 Cup Series driver was voted as the favorite showing the fans’ love & support for the HMS ace.

Reacting to the news, Elliott conveyed his gratitude sharing his appreciation for the fans before he mentioned a stronger comeback in the upcoming season despite the poor show in 2023.

Chase Elliott signals a stronger comeback ahead of 2024 after bagging the Most Popular Driver award

Success and failure always go hand-in-hand. But even a winless 2023 season couldn’t keep fans voting for Elliott, making him the Most Popular Driver for the sixth straight year. After Dale Earnhardt Jr dominated the scene, winning the award a whopping 15 consecutive times until 2017, the 2020 Cup Series champion & 2022 regular season champion slowly snatched the mantle from the 2-time Daytona winner to add one more to the Elliott family.

An unfortunate snowboarding accident got the driver off his game, leaving him sidelined and fracturing his left tibia. This meant that the #9 driver had to make up for the lost points after he missed 6 races due to the injury and one being suspended for “intentionally” wrecking Denny Hamlin.

However, as the season rolled onto its final leg, the points deficit overwhelmed the HMS star, and he was eventually eliminated from the fray, not making it even to the playoff rounds, something he has never come across in his eight full seasons in NASCAR’s top division. Even such a fallout to his aspirations couldn’t keep the fans from voting for the 28-year-old, as he was voted the most popular, beating the likes of Kevin Harvick and champion Ryan Blaney.

Reflecting on his achievement, Elliott signaled a comeback as he thanked the fandom for voting for him. He said, “I hope you are having a good night. Just, received the Most Popular Driver Award here in 2023 and just want to give a quick thank you to everybody that voted, everybody that supports us throughout the season.” 

“I never take it lightly, I always appreciate seeing you guys at the track and this award has always been about you so appreciate the support you have shown to me and my family over the years and hopefully we can have a better 2024 than we did in 2023 so looking forward to getting started and seeing you all at the track,” said the HMS sensation hinting resurgence. 

WATCH THIS STORY: Chase Elliott once again wins the Most Popular Driver award despite a disappointing season

Other awards and recognitions: Hailie Deegan wins it for the second time, while Allgaier bags it for the fourth

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The awards were announced at a grand function Thursday night when Elliott won the tag. Other drivers who won it include Truck Series sensation and Xfinity Series driver Hailie Deegan, who was selected as the most popular by the fans for the second time. JR Motorsports‘ Justin Allgaier, who finished the season 2nd with 4 wins under his belt, got the award handed to him for the 4th time in the Xfinity Series.

Sherry Pollex was also named the winner of the 2023 NMPA Myers Brothers Award. After a lengthy battle with cancer, she passed away in September aged 44. Over the years, she had raised several million dollars in the fight against pediatric and ovarian cancer, most notably through her annual Catwalk for a Cause charity event.

READ MORE: Possible Chase Elliott Upset & a Kyle Busch Surprise After Most Popular Driver Update Leaves NASCAR Community Happy