Chase Elliott Aims for Second NASCAR Cup Series Title
Chase Elliott, NASCAR’s most popular driver, is now setting his sights on a second Cup Series championship after taking time to adjust to the Next Gen racecar. He had a strong debut with the new car in 2022, claiming five victories. However, since then, he has only managed one win, as he’s worked on refining his driving style.
Heading into 2025, Elliott has adopted a refreshed mindset and a new design for his No. 9 NAPA Chevrolet, which may be contributing to his improved performance. Ten races into the season, he’s fourth in the standings with six top-10 finishes. Still, Elliott isn’t fully content with his results.
“It’s been alright—not great,” Elliott said. “We started the year decently, including a strong showing at the Clash. But besides that, there’s nothing I’d consider a standout moment yet. There’s a long way to go, and I’m ready for the grind.”
His No. 9 team, under crew chief Alan Gustafson, kicked off the season impressively, dominating at Bowman Gray Stadium by winning the pole and leading 171 of 200 laps. Still, Elliott remains cautious about reading too much into early success.
“I’ve been around long enough to know that a strong Clash doesn’t guarantee a great season,” he said. “We’re hoping to build momentum as we get into more traditional tracks over the summer.”
In his 2020 championship year, Elliott had five wins and 22 top-10s. To replicate that success, he’ll need to return to victory lane—something he hasn’t done in nearly a year. This weekend’s race at Texas Motor Speedway offers a chance to end that drought.
Recently, Elliott was in New York City to promote the upcoming MLB Speedway Classic at Bristol Motor Speedway on August 2—the first-ever MLB game at a NASCAR venue.
On the racing side, Elliott is focused on improving his consistency and speed. His average finish of 10.9 is solid, but he’s only led 45 laps this season, with the majority coming at Martinsville.
Elliott has also welcomed new sponsorships. Amazon Prime Video recently became a primary sponsor in a three-race deal that will continue through 2027, aligning with his Hendrick Motorsports contract. Their first race together will be the Coca-Cola 600 on Memorial Day weekend. Meanwhile, longtime partner NAPA remains committed, sponsoring 26 races.
Speaking about Amazon Prime Video, Elliott said, “We did a promo shoot with them earlier this year for their summer content. It’s a great fit, and their platform gives us a big opportunity to help grow the sport together.”
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