Chase Elliott

Chase Elliott Bio

William Clyde “Chase” Elliott II (born November 28, 1995) is an American professional stock car racing driver. He competes full-time in the NASCAR Cup Series, driving the No. 9 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 for Hendrick Motorsports, with Alan Gustafson serving as his crew chief. Standing 6 feet 1 inch tall and weighing 146 pounds, Elliott has become one of the most recognizable names in modern NASCAR.

Elliott is the son of 1988 Winston Cup Series champion Bill Elliott and is widely regarded as one of the most popular drivers of his generation. A multi-time Most Popular Driver Award winner, he earned a place among NASCAR’s 75 Greatest Drivers in 2023. He captured the 2020 Cup Series championship, cementing his place among the sport’s elite competitors.

Early Life and Background

Chase Elliott was born on November 28, 1995, in Dawsonville, Georgia. He grew up surrounded by racing, as the son of Bill Elliott, one of the most celebrated drivers of the 1980s and 1990s, and his mother, Cindy Elliott. From a young age, Chase was immersed in the world of stock car racing through his father’s career and the broader Dawsonville racing community, which has produced numerous NASCAR talents.

Bill Elliott’s presence in the sport provided Chase with early access to cars, tracks, and seasoned mentors. The younger Elliott began competing in quarter midgets and bandolero cars as a child, quickly showing the kind of talent that suggested a future at the highest levels of the sport. His upbringing in Dawsonville, a town synonymous with Georgia racing heritage, helped shape his grounded personality and respect for the traditions of stock car racing.

Path to NASCAR

Before reaching NASCAR’s national series, Elliott built one of the most decorated late model résumés of his era. He won the Snowball Derby in 2011 and 2015, along with the Winchester 400 in 2010, the World Crown 300 in 2012, and the All American 400 in 2013. He also captured three Snowflake 100 prelude races. These victories helped him complete what many consider the unofficial grand slam of super late model racing.

In February 2012, Elliott signed a driver development contract with Hendrick Motorsports, launching his path through NASCAR’s lower series. He competed in the K&N Pro Series East in 2012, earning his first victory at Iowa Speedway. The following year, he ran a partial Truck Series schedule for Turner Scott Motorsports and became the youngest pole-sitter in Truck Series history at Bristol Motor Speedway. In 2013, he also became the youngest winner in Truck Series history with a victory at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park. These performances set the stage for his rapid rise into NASCAR’s national spotlight.

Chase Elliott Career

Early Career (2014-2015)

Elliott moved to the NASCAR Nationwide Series full-time in 2014 with JR Motorsports, driving the No. 9 Chevrolet. He earned his first series win at Texas Motor Speedway, added victories at Darlington Raceway and Chicagoland Speedway, and clinched the 2014 Nationwide Series championship at Phoenix. At 18 years old, he became both the youngest driver and the first rookie ever to win a NASCAR national series championship. He was also named Nationwide Series Rookie of the Year and Most Popular Driver.

In 2015, Elliott ran a partial Sprint Cup Series schedule for Hendrick Motorsports, driving the No. 25 car with crew chief Kenny Francis. He made his Cup debut at Martinsville and later won his first Cup race of the season at Richmond, snapping a 36-race winless streak across all series. He finished second in the 2015 Nationwide Series championship standings despite running a limited schedule.

NASCAR Xfinity Series Breakthrough (2014-2018)

Elliott’s 2014 Nationwide Series championship served as his formal breakthrough in NASCAR. He won three races, earned the Rookie of the Year award, and immediately established himself as a rising star. The championship remains one of the most impressive rookie campaigns in modern NASCAR history.

After moving to the Cup Series full-time in 2016, Elliott continued to compete part-time in the Xfinity Series for JR Motorsports. He won the 2016 season-opener at Daytona, won at Texas driving the No. 5 car, and added another victory in 2024 at Charlotte driving the Hendrick Motorsports No. 17. Across his part-time Xfinity schedule, he remained a threat for wins whenever he entered a race.

NASCAR Cup Series Breakthrough (2016-2019)

Elliott joined the Cup Series full-time in 2016, taking over Jeff Gordon’s iconic No. 24 Chevrolet at Hendrick Motorsports with crew chief Alan Gustafson. He won the 2016 Sprint Cup Series Rookie of the Year award after a strong debut season that included a Daytona 500 pole, making him the youngest pole-sitter in the race’s history at age 20. He qualified for the Chase and finished tenth in the standings.

In 2018, Hendrick Motorsports switched Elliott to the No. 9 Chevrolet, the number his father Bill made famous. That August, at Watkins Glen, Elliott earned his first career Cup Series victory, leading the final 33 laps. The win mirrored his father’s career, as both drivers finished second eight times before their first win, and both earned their maiden victories on road courses. Later that year, Elliott added wins at Dover and Kansas, advancing to the Round of 8 in the playoffs. He continued to build momentum in 2019 with a dramatic victory at the Charlotte Roval, finishing the season as a perennial championship contender.

Hendrick Motorsports Era (2020-Present)

The 2020 season marked Elliott’s arrival as a champion. Despite missing the playoffs the previous year, he won at the Daytona road course, captured the All-Star Race at Bristol, and won at Martinsville to clinch a spot in the Championship 4. Starting last in the Season Finale 500 at Phoenix after pre-race inspection issues, he led a race-high 153 laps and won both the race and the 2020 Cup Series championship. At 24, he became the second-youngest Cup champion in history and joined his father Bill as only the third father-son duo to win Cup titles, following the Pettys and the Jarretts.

Since then, Elliott has remained a central figure at Hendrick Motorsports. He captured the 2022 regular-season championship and tied his career-best with five wins that year. After missing the playoffs in 2023 due to a fractured tibia suffered in a snowboarding accident, he returned strong in 2024 with a win at Texas that ended a 42-race winless streak. In 2025, he opened with a victory at the Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium and added a 20th career Cup win at Atlanta after passing Brad Keselowski on the final lap.

Driving Style and Strengths

Elliott is widely regarded as one of the best road course racers of his generation, with a knack for executing precise overtakes and managing tire wear over long runs. His smooth, patient style contrasts with more aggressive rivals and has produced seven road course wins. Long-tenured crew chief Alan Gustafson has provided consistent strategy and setup work, giving Elliott a steady foundation on intermediate tracks, superspeedways, and short tracks alike.

Notable Races and Milestones

Elliott’s signature moments include his first Cup win at Watkins Glen in 2018, his 2020 Daytona 500 and Cup championship at Phoenix, the 2020 All-Star Race at Bristol, and his 2022 regular-season title. He has also earned an eight-time NASCAR Most Popular Driver Award, tying him with his father and Dale Earnhardt Jr. for the most all-time.

Chase Elliott Career Wins

Across NASCAR’s three national series, Chase Elliott has accumulated 20 Cup Series victories, multiple Xfinity Series wins, and several Truck Series triumphs. His victory total places him among the most successful active drivers in the Cup Series and continues to grow each season.

Cup Series Highlights

Elliott has 20 career NASCAR Cup Series wins, including the 2020 Daytona 500, the 2020 championship-clinching race at Phoenix, and seven road course victories. His best single season came in 2020, when he won five races and the title, and he matched that win total in 2022 while earning the regular-season championship.

Other Wins and Performances

In the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, Elliott’s most notable victory came at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park in 2013, where he became the youngest winner in series history at the time. He also won the 2017 Martinsville Truck race and added a Truck Series victory in 2020 at Charlotte, beating Kyle Busch to claim a bounty offered by Kevin Harvick.

Chase Elliott Family

Family Background and Racing Lineage

Chase Elliott is the son of Bill Elliott, the 1988 Winston Cup Series champion and 2015 NASCAR Hall of Fame inductee, and Cindy Elliott. The Elliotts are one of the most celebrated father-son pairings in NASCAR history, joining the Pettys, Bakers, Jarretts, Allisons, and Earnhardts on a short list of racing dynasties. Chase’s brother, Starr Elliott, has also been involved in racing, continuing the family’s deep connection to the sport.

Personal Life

Elliott is in a relationship with Ashley Anderson. He lives in the Dawsonville, Georgia area and continues to be closely tied to his hometown and family roots. Outside of racing, he enjoys outdoor activities and is known for his reserved, thoughtful public persona.

2025 Season Performance

Elliott opened 2025 by winning the Cook Out Clash exhibition race at Bowman Gray Stadium, signaling strong early form. He followed that with a 15th-place finish at the Daytona 500 and steadily built consistency through the regular season. His hard-fought victory at Atlanta, where he passed Brad Keselowski on the final lap for his 20th career Cup win, highlighted his renewed championship caliber.

During the 2025 playoffs, Elliott added a victory at Kansas, further strengthening his postseason momentum. Crew chief Alan Gustafson has continued to deliver consistent setups, and the No. 9 team’s chemistry has been a key asset in close finishes. As the season progressed, Elliott remained a serious threat to contend for a second Cup Series championship, building on the foundation that delivered his first title in 2020.