Chase Elliott Remembers First NASCAR Meeting With Jimmie Johnson, Dale Earnhardt Jr, Jeff Gordon at Hendrick

Back in 2015, Chase Elliott made his Cup Series debut with the Hendrick Motorsports team. Straightaway, he was shoved right into one of the top NASCAR teams, which is a little intimidating for a rookie. In a recent interview, Elliott cast his mind back to when he first stepped into the Hendrick Motorsports office.

“The first thing that comes to my mind is that first meeting I stepped into in 2015. I walk into this room and you got Jeff [Gordon], Jimmie [Johnson], Dale [Earnhardt Jr], and Kasey [Kahne]. I’m like, ‘I don’t belong in here’. I shouldn’t be here.

“Just to watch each of those guys step away and watch that room transition into what it’s going to look like this year, is crazy,” he said.

Chase Elliott is looking forward to linking up with his new teammates

Now, Elliott is partnering a new set of drivers. Dale Jr and Kasey Kahne have long since walked away, and Jimmie Johnson was the latest one to leave the nest. Taking their places in the Hendrick Motorsports camp are Alex Bowman, William Byron, and newcomer, Kyle Larson.

Speaking about his new teammates, Elliott insisted, “I think HMS is an exciting place to be right now. For young drivers, for hungry drivers. Four guys who I think can compete at a really high level. Hopefully, we can all push each other to be better and get HMS to where it belongs.”

Aside from the #9 driver, Bowman, Byron, and Larson are top-class drivers. They all definitely deserve their HMS seats and will surely help the outfit to another title. However, their rivals in Joe Gibbs, Stewart-Haas, and Penske, will not make things easy for them in 2021. At the same time, it is every man for himself in the driver’s championship.

READ MORE: We’re Not At Our Peak” – Chase Elliott on Defending His 2020 Crown