Chase Elliott breaks down the ‘greatest skill’ a racer can possess

Chase Elliott has been in the sport for a dozen years now.

Denny Hamlin and Chase Elliott (Via IMAGO)

Hendricks Motorsport driver Chase Elliott, hailing from a family of racing legends, etched his name in history back in 2020. Snagging victory at the NASCAR Cup Series Championship, he not only left tire marks but an unforgettable legacy. Following the footsteps of his Hall of Fame dad, Bill Elliott, Chase’s journey is a story of keeping the gas pedal down with consistency and an unyielding spirit.

Elliott didn’t just clinch the win; he took victory by the horns, proving to the racing world that he’s not just a chip off the old block but a formidable force. He has racked up 18 wins in his 267 Cup starts and bagged 12 poles. Elliott also donned the Weather Tech SportsCar Championship outfit for the 24-hour Daytona in 2021 and took a moment to reflect on the greatest trait a racer can have.

In a 12-question interview with The Athletic, Elliott shed light on the pivotal skill for race car drivers, emphasizing the importance of navigating uncomfortable corners. He believes, “The guys who have the most success in this garage on a weekly basis and consistently run well are the most comfortable in the most uncomfortable areas of the corner.”

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According to Elliott, the ability to find comfort in the constantly changing discomfort zones is crucial. He shared, “So it’s the guys who can be the most comfortable in uncomfortable areas on track, and that changes week to week.” This adaptability, combined with skillful navigation of discomfort, distinguishes successful race car drivers as they seek the optimum path to victory.

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Chase Elliot likens racing to mathematics

Elliott underscores the strategic aspect of racing, noting, “It’s just math, in a sense.” The No:9 driver believes by compromising in one part of the corner, you might find advantages in another. The goal is to optimize your path on the track, making the straightaways longer and extracting maximum speed. It’s a precise science that drivers must master to stay competitive.

Now, in 2023, Chase faced a bumpy road. Missing seven out of the 26 races in the NASCAR Cup Series regular season, a mix of injuries and suspension threw him off track. A leg injury from a wild snowboarding adventure in Colorado had him sidelined in early March, followed by surgery and rehab. Despite finishing the regular season with a decent top 10 points per race average, he didn’t secure a spot in the top 16-point standings, making it the first season in his career never to make it into the playoffs.

Chase Elliott’s strange season:

– Unlikely, but still eligible to score the most top 10s of anyone, despite missing 7 races

– Real possibility he leads the Series in avg finish in 2023

– Has only led 112 laps in 25 races, the worst stretch of his entire Cup Series career pic.twitter.com/nDygl2NCl8
— Trey Ryan (@TreyRyan99) October 15, 2023

In his 13 starts, there was no taste of victory, and his top-10 finishes only made up 53.8% of those races. Starting at an average position of 18.7 through 13 races, it was a challenging season for Elliott. However, his No. 9 team battled on, qualifying for the Cup Series team owners championship. Even during his seven missed races, the points earned by his replacements added up to the team’s total. Elliott’s words on the greatest skill reflect a mindset honed through experience and a pragmatic approach to life.