Chase Elliott is set to make his 300th start in the NASCAR Cup Series this Sunday at the Charlotte Motor Speedway in the Coca-Cola 600. This achievement makes him the second driver from Hendrick Motorsports to hit this milestone within a month, following his teammate Alex Bowman, who reached it at Dover Motor Speedway in April. Elliott, 28, hailing from Dawsonville, Georgia, has exclusively driven for team owner Rick Hendrick in NASCAR’s top series and hopes to continue doing so throughout his career.
Reflecting on his journey, Elliott expressed his deep appreciation for Hendrick, acknowledging the significant role he has played in his career. Elliott remarked, “This has been the only home I have ever known in my NASCAR career, which is really cool. I owe everything I have to Rick (Hendrick), the opportunities and my life, just every bit.” As of Sunday’s race, Elliott has accumulated 19 wins, 98 top-five finishes, 158 top-10s, 12 poles, and led 5,226 laps in the Cup Series. He won the Cup Series championship in 2020 and made the Championship 4 in three consecutive seasons from 2020 to 2022, with Alan Gustafson as his crew chief throughout his full-time Cup career.
Elliott’s entry into Hendrick Motorsports was facilitated by James Finch, a former Cup Series car owner, who recommended him to Rick Hendrick after noticing Elliott’s performances in grassroots series. Elliott recalls meeting Hendrick and starting his journey with the team, which included racing in the NASCAR Xfinity Series for JR Motorsports and winning the 2014 championship. He then made five Cup starts in 2015 before transitioning to the No. 24 Chevrolet from 2016 to 2017, winning the pole position for the DAYTONA 500 in his first race with the car. In 2018, Elliott switched to the No. 9 Chevrolet, a number significant to his family due to his father, Bill Elliott’s, legacy.
Elliott’s first Cup Series win came at Watkins Glen International after eight runner-up finishes, a memorable and hard-fought victory. He achieved three-win seasons back-to-back in 2018 and 2019 and had a standout 2020 season, culminating in a championship victory at Phoenix Raceway. Reflecting on that season, Elliott noted the rapid shift from being on the outside to competing for and winning the championship, a culmination of being in peak form at the right time.
In 2021, Elliott won twice and again reached the Championship 4, while in 2022, he led the series with five wins and secured the regular-season championship. Despite missing six races in 2023 due to a fractured tibia and not making the driver playoffs for the first time in his career, Elliott led the No. 9 team to the Round of 8 in the owner playoffs. This season, he showcased his winning form with a victory at Texas Motor Speedway.
Heading into the Charlotte race, Elliott has one win, three runner-up finishes, five top-fives, six top-10s, and has led 338 laps in 12 starts at the 1.5-mile track. With seven drivers having won in their 300th Cup Series start, Elliott aims to become the eighth. His milestone race will be broadcast on Sunday, May 26, at 6 p.m. ET on FOX, PRN Radio, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Channel 90).
