via Getty
WATKINS GLEN, NEW YORK – AUGUST 08: Chase Elliott, driver of the #9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet, exits his car after the NASCAR Cup Series Go Bowling at The Glen at Watkins Glen International on August 08, 2021 in Watkins Glen, New York. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
via Getty
WATKINS GLEN, NEW YORK – AUGUST 08: Chase Elliott, driver of the #9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet, exits his car after the NASCAR Cup Series Go Bowling at The Glen at Watkins Glen International on August 08, 2021 in Watkins Glen, New York. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
The king of Road Courses, Chase Elliott, won the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series Championship. Of course, everyone knows the iconic driver, who is the son of NASCAR legend, Bill Elliott. But things were not so easy for the #9 driver throughout the 2020 season.
In fact, Elliott almost lost all hopes of winning the title in 2020. And it wasn’t even his fault.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
NASCAR’s governing authorities inspect every car ahead of races and ensure that the car is legal and ready to race. And the same was the case with Chase Elliott‘s #9 NAPA AUTO PARTS Chevrolet.
Even his car chief, Matt Barndt, felt they combed out everything as he said, “The main job is to make sure that the car doesn’t have issues. We’re looking at the finite details. This car gets put together over the course of three weeks. We get it and in three days go through it with a fine-toothed comb trying to find any potential issues.”
But inspection did not go well for the team, Barndt recalled, “Inspection went terrible. We failed twice and passed on the third, so we had to go to the back.”
In fact, he felt that was the end of the road for the #9 team. Matt confessed, “I thought I ended our hopes.”
Read More: Chase Elliott Reveals His Biggest Pet Peeve With Apple Products
The most crushing detail is that these issues happened on the very last race of the season, the title race at Phoenix raceway.
So how did Chase Elliott perform in the title race?
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
The inspection might have crushed the team’s hopes, but Elliott made sure to pay it all off for the team.
via Getty
AVONDALE, ARIZONA – NOVEMBER 08: Chase Elliott, driver of the #9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet, celebrates in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Cup Series Season Finale 500 and the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series Championship at Phoenix Raceway in Avondale, Arizona. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
The #9 car made a quick way up to the top of the field. And the driver led a race-high, 153 laps to head to take the chequered flag, along with his 2020 NASCAR Cup Series title.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
Watch This Story: Chase Elliott & Denny Hamlin Combine to Give Ross Chastain “An A** Whipping”
Leave it to Chase Elliott to turn a bitter weekend into a very, very sweet one. And time and time again, the driver proves that he’s getting even better and faster. So, do you think we will take the 2022 title as well?
