NASCAR: Defining Success For ’16 Sprint Cup Rookies
Chase Elliott
We’ve all heard the talk about this young gentleman from the small town of Dawsonville, Georgia headed into 2016. Can he fill the shoes of Jeff Gordon in the No. 24 car? Has he been rushed to the Sprint Cup Series? Will he win a race in 2016? However you may answer these questions, the one thing that Chase Elliott needs to worry about is not being Jeff Gordon.
Chase, like no one else, will ever be Jeff Gordon. Chase needs to create his own image in NASCAR. That has begun to start with his own new looks on the No. 24 Chevrolet, like the gold-and-blue car above or bringing back the NAPA colors to the Sprint Cup Circuit. A successful first season will be crucial to Chase Elliott creating his own NASCAR image.
That being said, what would be considered a successful season for Elliott in his first year in the Cup Series? Of course, there will be a lot of eyes on him in Speedweeks as he prepares for his first race in the No. 24, and it certainly will take time getting used too. The real goal Chase needs to seek this year is consistency. Lead lap finishes will quickly turn into top 15s and top 10s for the No. 24 team.
This consistency will all but guarantee that Chase will be the top contender for the Rookie of the Year award, which also must be the primary goal for Elliott in 2016. He will certainly have a tough rookie class to compete with, but I think Chase Elliott gets the job done and wins this award. I would be surprised to see this team in Victory Lane in 2016, but it is not completely off of the radar, but in order to achieve this, he will have to establish a successful relationship with crew chief Alan Gustafson. Lest we forget Gustafson did bring Kyle Busch two victories in his rookie campaign in 2005.
Success for the No. 24 team: Be consistent and win the ROTY Award. Victory Lane could be in sights if Elliott adjusts to the Cup Series well early in the season.
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The Rookie of the Year battle in 2016 will be fierce. This is the best rookie class in several years in this transition year in NASCAR. Legendary cars and teams have new faces and will look for success in 2016. Beyond the Flag will be the number 1 site to follow the ROTY battle and all of your NASCAR news throughout the 2016 season.