This time
last year, Chase Elliot had no plans for the 2014 season after his primary
sponsor, Aaron’s, had left. 2013 was Elliot’s introductory season into the
premier series of NASCAR, running a handful of Camping World Truck Series races
and even collecting a win.
In late
December 2013, NAPA teamed up with JR Motorsports and Chase Elliot as the
driver to run the No.9 fulltime in the Nationwide series for 2014. Many were
excited to watch the talented Elliot take on some of NASCAR’s best, but few
expected him to be a true contender. Early on Elliot showed his maturity and
talent with strong solid finishes, and a statement victory at Texas. No one
thought that the week after his first victory that Elliott would be in victory
lane again at a track such as Darlington.
Elliot was proving that he was going
to be a contender for the Championship, and he didn’t disappoint. He took over
the points lead after Chicagoland and never went back. The team never pushed
the edge to be in victory lane each week. Elliott used his talents and maturity
to do exactly what he needed to do: stay ahead and finish strong. Chase Elliot
entered this previous Saturday’s race at Phoenix only needing to finish ahead
of teammate Regan Smith to become the youngest champion in series history. He
was able to lock in the championship by doing just that. At a mere eighteen
years old, Elliot became a champion, when a year ago he didn’t even have plans
for 2014.
-Stephen Appell
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