Chase Elliott Bio
William Clyde “Chase” Elliott II, born on November 28, 1995, in Dawsonville, Georgia, is an American professional stock car racing driver. He competes full-time in the NASCAR Cup Series, driving the No. 9 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 for Hendrick Motorsports, and also runs a part-time schedule in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series for JR Motorsports. The son of 1988 Winston Cup Series champion Bill Elliott, Chase has carved out his own legacy as one of NASCAR’s most popular and successful modern drivers.
Elliott first rose to national attention through a dominant run in late model stock car racing, where he won several of the country’s most prestigious short-track events. He has since built a Cup Series résumé that includes a championship, a Daytona 500 victory, and a long list of road course triumphs. Named one of NASCAR’s 75 Greatest Drivers in 2023, Elliott remains a central figure in the sport.
Early Life and Background
Chase Elliott was born and raised in Dawsonville, Georgia, a small town that has long been associated with the Elliott family’s racing heritage. His father, Bill Elliott, is one of the most respected names in NASCAR history, and his mother, Cindy Elliott, helped raise the family in that same racing-focused environment. Growing up around the garage, Chase was introduced to motorsports at a very early age and quickly developed a passion for competition.
By his early teens, Elliott was already turning heads in junior racing circles. At thirteen, he was featured in Sports Illustrated alongside other promising young athletes, signaling the talent that was beginning to emerge. He spent his formative years cutting his teeth on Georgia short tracks, sharpening his skills in late model competition and earning a reputation as a smooth, confident wheelman with remarkable race craft for his age.
His education and personal formation were tightly tied to his racing development, as the Elliott family prioritized track time and seat time over traditional extracurricular paths. The combination of family legacy, regional racing tradition, and an intense personal work ethic set the stage for his eventual leap into the NASCAR national series ladder.
Path to NASCAR
Elliott’s path to NASCAR’s top levels ran through the country’s most competitive short tracks and developmental series. In 2010, he won twelve races across various late model series and earned recognition as the Georgia Asphalt Pro Late Model Series Rookie of the Year. The following year, he became the youngest winner of the prestigious Snowball Derby, cementing his status as a generational short-track talent.
He signed a three-year driver development contract with Hendrick Motorsports in 2012, giving him a clear path into NASCAR’s national touring series. That same year, he began competing in the K&N Pro Series East and West, scoring his first win at Iowa Speedway. His rapid progression through the development ladder caught the attention of team owner Rick Hendrick, who saw him as a future cornerstone of the organization.
In 2013, Elliott made his NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series debut with Hendrick-affiliated trucks and immediately impressed, earning his first career pole at Bristol and his first Truck Series win at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park. By the end of 2013, he was widely viewed as the most promising young stock car driver in the country, and the move to the national series was only a matter of time.
Chase Elliott Career
Early Career (2011–2014)
Elliott’s early NASCAR career was defined by historic firsts. In January 2014, JR Motorsports announced that he would run full-time in the NASCAR Nationwide Series in the No. 9 Chevrolet with NAPA Auto Parts sponsorship. He scored his first series win at Texas Motor Speedway in April 2014 and quickly added victories at Darlington Raceway and Chicagoland Speedway.
By season’s end, Elliott had clinched the 2014 NASCAR Nationwide Series championship, becoming both the first rookie and the youngest driver to win a national series title in NASCAR history. He was also named the series’ Most Popular Driver, signaling the start of his long run of fan support. That same year, he was recognized as the Nationwide Series Rookie of the Year.
NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Breakthrough (2014–Present)
Elliott’s Nationwide Series, now the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, career has been marked by continued excellence even while splitting time with his Cup Series duties. His 2014 championship remains the foundation of his résumé in the series, and he has added six career wins, including a 2024 victory driving the Hendrick Motorsports No. 17 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
He has also run select races for JR Motorsports in the No. 88 Chevrolet, including the season-opening PowerShares QQQ 300 at Daytona in 2016, which he won. Across the series, he has accumulated 71 top-ten finishes and three poles, balancing a part-time schedule with his full-time Cup Series commitments. His success in the lower series helped him stay sharp between major Cup battles.
NASCAR Cup Series Breakthrough (2015–Present)
Elliott made his Cup Series debut in 2015 at Martinsville Speedway in the No. 25 car. Hendrick Motorsports quickly moved him into Jeff Gordon’s iconic No. 24 Chevrolet for the 2016 season, pairing him with crew chief Alan Gustafson. He won the 2016 Sprint Cup Series Rookie of the Year award, posted a Daytona 500 pole, and qualified for the playoffs, finishing tenth in the final standings.
In 2018, Hendrick Motorsports shifted Elliott to the No. 9 Chevrolet, the number his father Bill had made famous. That August at Watkins Glen, Elliott led the final thirty-three laps to claim his first career Cup Series victory, a win that mirrored his father’s first win on a road course. He added playoff wins at Dover and Kansas that fall, establishing himself as a championship contender.
The defining moment came in 2020, when Elliott captured the NASCAR Cup Series championship at Phoenix Raceway, joining his father Bill as only the third father-son duo to win Cup Series titles. He also won the 2020 Daytona 500 and the 2020 NASCAR All-Star Race at Bristol that same season. He followed up in 2022 by locking down the NASCAR Cup Series Regular Season Championship, tying a career-best five-win season, and added the 2025 Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium to his growing exhibition resume.
Hendrick Motorsports Era (2016–Present)
Elliott’s tenure with Hendrick Motorsports has been the defining chapter of his Cup Series career. Since taking over the No. 24 in 2016 and switching to the No. 9 in 2018, he has remained paired with crew chief Alan Gustafson, forming one of the most consistent driver-crew chief partnerships in the garage. The team has supported him with strong NAPA Auto Parts and Hooters sponsorship programs.
His current form has included a 2024 victory at Texas Motor Speedway that ended a 42-race winless streak, and a strong 2025 campaign that featured a win at the Cook Out Clash, a victory at Atlanta, and a playoff win at Kansas. With 23 career Cup Series wins, 197 top-ten finishes, and 12 poles, Elliott continues to be a weekly threat across both ovals and road courses.
Driving Style and Strengths
Elliott is widely regarded as one of the best road course racers of his generation, with seven career Cup Series road course wins and the highest all-time winning percentage on road courses during his championship season. His smooth, methodical driving style contrasts with more aggressive peers, allowing him to save equipment and capitalize on late-race opportunities. The long-standing partnership with crew chief Alan Gustafson has produced consistent pit work and smart race strategy, giving Elliott a competitive edge in tight finishes.
Notable Races and Milestones
Beyond his 2020 Cup Series championship, Elliott owns signature wins at Watkins Glen, Dover, Kansas, the Daytona 500, the 2020 NASCAR All-Star Race at Bristol, and the 2025 Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray. He has been named the Cup Series Most Popular Driver eight consecutive times, from 2018 through 2025, and was recognized as one of NASCAR’s 75 Greatest Drivers in 2023.
Chase Elliott Career Wins
Across NASCAR’s national series, Chase Elliott has compiled a deep and varied win ledger. In the NASCAR Cup Series, he has scored 23 career victories, including the 2020 Daytona 500 and the 2020 series championship. His wins span superspeedways, intermediates, short tracks, and road courses, with road course success standing out as a defining trait of his career.
NASCAR Cup Series Highlights
Elliott’s first Cup Series win came at Watkins Glen in 2018, a breakthrough moment that ended a long run of near-misses and mirrored his father’s own first victory on a road course. His most recent wins include the 2024 triumph at Texas and 2025 victories at the Cook Out Clash, Atlanta, and Kansas. Crown jewel wins include the 2020 Daytona 500, the 2020 All-Star Race, and a string of playoff victories that fueled his 2020 championship run.
Other Wins and Performances
In the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, Elliott has three career wins, including a debut victory at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park in 2013 and a 2020 win at Charlotte Motor Speedway. He also has six career wins in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, highlighted by his 2014 championship and a 2024 victory at Charlotte. On the short-track side, he is a two-time Snowball Derby winner and the 2013 All American 400 champion, completing the unofficial grand slam of super late model racing.
| Series | Wins | Top Tens | Poles |
|---|---|---|---|
| NASCAR Cup Series | 23 | 197 | 12 |
| NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series | 6 | 71 | 3 |
| NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series | 3 | 15 | 3 |
Chase Elliott Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Chase Elliott comes from one of the most storied families in American motorsports. His father, Bill Elliott, won the 1988 Winston Cup Series championship and was inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2015. His mother, Cindy Elliott, has been a steady presence throughout his racing journey. The Elliotts are one of several father-son duos in NASCAR history to leave a major mark on the sport.
The racing connection runs deep on both sides of the family, with Bill Elliott’s career serving as both inspiration and benchmark for Chase. The two have shared memorable moments on track, including a Snowball Derby win together and multiple races where Bill served as Chase’s spotter. Their bond remains a defining element of Chase’s identity as a driver.
Personal Life
Chase Elliott is in a long-term relationship with Ashley Anderson. The couple has kept much of their personal life private, focusing public attention on his racing career. Off the track, Elliott enjoys outdoor activities and stays closely connected to his family in Dawsonville, Georgia.
2025 Season Performance
Chase Elliott’s 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season began with a victory at the Cook Out Clash exhibition race at Bowman Gray Stadium, a significant win in a race that returned to a historic short track venue. He followed it with a fifteenth-place finish in the Daytona 500 and then settled into a steady run of consistent results through the early spring. His regular season pace kept him in playoff contention and reaffirmed his standing among the series’ top drivers.
As the season progressed, Elliott picked up his twentieth career Cup Series victory at Atlanta Motor Speedway, passing Brad Keselowski on the final lap in a dramatic finish. The win highlighted the renewed speed of the No. 9 team and the strength of his continued partnership with crew chief Alan Gustafson. The team also leaned heavily on the NAPA Auto Parts sponsorship program, which has been a constant since his earliest national series races.
During the playoffs, Elliott added another important win at Kansas Speedway, giving him momentum heading into the later rounds. With strong intermediate-track pace, sharp pit work, and his trademark road course strength, Elliott entered the closing stretch of 2025 as a serious threat to return to the Championship 4. The outlook for the remainder of the season pointed toward another deep playoff run for the No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports team.
