With a fifth-place finish in the DAV 200 – Honoring America’s Veterans at Phoenix (Ariz.) International Raceway, Chase Elliott became the youngest NASCAR Nationwide Series champion in his first year of competition with JR Motorsports.
With his 16th top-five finish of the season, Elliott, the son of 2015 NASCAR Hall of Fame inductee Bill Elliott is all but assured the 2014 NASCAR Nationwide Series Rookie of the Year title as well, becoming the first driver to hoist two crowns in the same season.
“I never would have even believed this was in my future,” said 18-year old Elliott. “At the beginning of this season I had only run a couple of truck races. I feel lot of this is just due to the group of guys I was able to work with. Those guys were bringing me super-fast cars every week.”
Despite never competing in a Nationwide race, before the start of the year at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway, Elliott drove his No. 9 NAPA AUTO PARTS Chevrolet Camaro to a nearly flawless season.
With one race remaining, the Dawsonville, Georgia native has captured two poles, three wins, 16th top-fives and 26 top-10 finishes.
Elliott needed to finish ahead of his JR Motorsports teammate Regan Smith in order to clinch the crown a week early. At times during the penultimate race of the season, Smith looked to have the better car, but a two-tire stop for Smith late in the race proved to be costly.
Smith took a deep slide on the ensuing restart, with Elliott squeezing by. When the checkered flag flew, Elliott officially clinched the title with a 52-point margin, sewing up the driver’s title.
Smith finished 10th.
In their ninth year of competition, Elliott earned Mooresville, North Carolina-based JR Motorsports their first Nationwide championship. The team also rewarded manufacturer Chevrolet with their 18th driver’s championship since the series’ inception in 1982.
“On behalf of Chevrolet, congratulations to Chase Elliott and the No. 9 Camaro team on winning the NASCAR Nationwide Series Driver’s Championship,” said Jim Campbell, Chevrolet U.S. Vice President Performance Vehicles and Motorsports.
“Chase and the crew demonstrated great teamwork and that never-give-up attitude. Congratulations to Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Kelly Earnhardt and the entire JR Motorsports organization on this accomplishment.”
Before Elliott’s triumph, Brian Vickers previously held the record for youngest Nationwide champion at 20 years, 22 days when he won the 2003 NASCAR Nationwide Series championship for Hendrick Motorsports. Chase Elliott’s father Bill Elliott won the 1988 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship. With today’s achievement, they are the fifth father / son combo to win NASCAR national series championships; joining the Jarretts (Ned and Dale), Pettys (Lee and Richard), Pearsons (David and Larry) and Earnhardts (Dale Sr. and Dale Jr.)
Tonight, the siren at the immensely popular Dawsonville Pool Room, nearly 2,000 miles east in Georgia is sure to blare, maybe even all night, after the teenager’s latest achievement.
Follow Chris Knight on Twitter @Knighter01.
