In the past few years, there has hardly been a time right before the NASCAR season starts when Chase Elliott hasn’t been in contention for the favorites to win the championship at the end of the season. And why wouldn’t that be, anyway?

The Hendrick Motorsports driver won the 2020 title, and finished inside the final four in the following two seasons, making him the darling of those sitting in Vegas. However, for Elliott, being the favorite to win the championship even before the season begins means nothing.

Of course, he wants it to come true, but at the same time, he also isn’t betting on the bets based on the odds that predict his fate simply because it’s a sport, and things change within moments.

Chase Elliott appreciates the odds but also understands the reality of NASCAR

Speaking in a recent interview with SiriusXM, Chase Elliott addressed the subject of him being the favorite to win the 2023 Cup championship as per the odds in Las Vegas. This outcome for the man from Dawsonville is one which has been called “way too early,” but it’s one he understands.

“They have to put the odds out there for somebody. One way or another, I’m people want to bet on that stuff. I don’t pay it any attention because I also, I get why they do it,” Elliott said. “But I also understand the reality of what the season looks like, how much that can change, the things we have going on internally that might be positive or areas where we need to be better in.”

Having said that, Elliott hopes all the odds come true. As for if he’s okay with people betting on him, the #9 driver said, “Oh yeah, go for it. If you want to, great, that’s on you, don’t blame me, that’s on you.”

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What has Elliott been up to in the off-season?

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Unlike many of his NASCAR rivals who chose to spend their off-season relaxing and recharging their batteries, Chase Elliott has spent his honing his craft and being around racing as much as he can.

Right after the season ended, the HMS driver took part in the Nitro Rally Cross, which he is going to soon follow up with racing against his NASCAR teammate Kyle Larson in The Apex Grand Opening Event.

Elliott is leaving no stone unturned in his prep for the upcoming NASCAR season. Though it is not surprising that he is the favorite to win the title—his second—it would nevertheless be an interesting storyline to follow considering how leveled the competition has become in the sport ever since the Next Gen car came.

So it’d be worth watching how well the son of Awesome Bill from Dawsonville manages to balance the expectations, the odds, the competition, and his own hunger to win.

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