NASCAR: Looking To The Future

Peter Casey-USA TODAY Sports

Chase Elliott

• Age: 19
• Xfinity Series Wins: 3
• Best Sprint Cup Series Standings Finish: No full seasons yet

Chase Elliott made a name for himself by becoming the youngest driver to win the Nationwide Series championship. He already had a commanding lead over the rest of the pack and had used many clutch late-race performances to seal victories.

As the son of former NASCAR driver Bill Elliott, Chase used his dad’s #9 while in the Nationwide Series. However, after Jeff Gordon announced that he would retire after the 2015 season, Elliott was deemed the new driver for the famous #24 car at the start of the 2016 season and he was also granted a spot in a few Sprint Cup races in the 2015 season. He would go on to race in the #25 NAPA car with Kenny Francis as his crew chief.

His first Sprint Cup race in Martinsville was forgettable as he was taken out of the race early due to a wreck but his second start showed signs of what the future held for him as he finished 16th in Richmond. He will also compete in a few more races this season including events at tracks like Indianapolis and Darlington.

Elliott will be starting in his first full-time Sprint Cup Series season at the young age of 20 which will give him plenty of early experience. If all goes well, he is expected to have a brilliant career and rise to be one of the stars of NASCAR, I mean he’s only going to be replacing Jeff Gordon in the #24 car. No pressure, right?