Chase Elliott is 28 years old and in the prime of his NASCAR Cup Series career. In his ninth full-time season, he’s recorded 19 career Cup victories, won the 2020 championship, and earned the title as the sport’s most popular driver six years in a row. With so many impressive career achievements and reflecting back on his life, what would he tell his 10-year-old self about life and racing?
“From 10 to now, a lot has changed for sure,” Elliott admitted before the June 23 New Hampshire race. “Just continue to learn in life and in racing. I think as time goes on and every year that I get older, I think I learn new things and I might look at something a little bit differently. I think as you get older, you really just start to understand and recognize priorities on the racetrack and off the racetrack, or at least that’s kind of where my head has gone over the course of my later twenties here.
“From 10 to now, a lot has changed for sure,” Elliott admitted before the June 23 New Hampshire race. “Just continue to learn in life and in racing. I think as time goes on and every year that I get older, I think I learn new things and I might look at something a little bit differently. I think as you get older, you really just start to understand and recognize priorities on the racetrack and off the racetrack, or at least that’s kind of where my head has gone over the course of my later twenties here.
“I think that will continue to change as time goes. I’m not sure if that ever stops. You know, I’ve never met a human that, whether you’re 35 or 55 or 75, that has it figured out. So, I don’t think anybody ever figures it out. I think if you just be open-minded and try to keep your eyes on the things that matter and let the rest of it sort itself out.”
Chase Elliott, as he mentioned, has been a part of NASCAR since his birth with his father Bill competing. That family background has allowed him to have a unique perspective on the sport as it’s changed through the years. He said the biggest change he’s personally witnessed since his arrival on the Cup scene in 2016 has been the current car, which debuted in 2022.
“Since I’ve been here, it’s been the transition to the Next Gen car, for sure. I mean, and honestly, I’m not sure there’s ever been a change that is quite that large or a change that has been that much of a departure from a previous generation vehicle.”
That’s the past. What does Elliott think about the future of NASCAR?
“I don’t know,” he admitted. “I’m not sure where they want to go. Obviously, there’s a lot of talk of what the electric side of the world is going to bring. That’s the most popular question, right?
“I don’t really know. I think society is going to determine that probably more than anything as time goes. What laws are going to be put in place over the course of the next 10 to 20 years that ultimately trickle down and force them to have to make a change or not.
“I know that NASCAR, they’re always trying to think ahead at least and understand. They try to be prepared for whatever that next step is. I really think anything is on the table as time goes on. And I think from a competitor standpoint and just being involved with these teams, I just hope that they give the teams a good opportunity to not only financially be able to take on big changes as they come along in a fair manner, but also timely, too, and just giving people enough time to develop and get things where they need to be.”
