Tam caught up with Chase Elliott on the eve on the Daytona 500 and had an opportunity to interview him for MankindUnplugged.com. Below is an excerpt of the interview.
photo credit: Instagram
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Like his dad and teammate Dale Jr., who is now NASCAR’s Most Popular Driver for the 13th time, Chase has already shown that he too is part of the in-crowd and gaining popularity quickly. The 20-year-old Sprint Cup rookie has already accomplished more than many will ever do in a lifetime. He’s not even legally able to drink yet, but he’s already a millionaire, a champion driver, has appeared on the cover of multiple magazines and has his own bobblehead, thanks to sponsor, Valvoline.
Chase has been racing since he was eight years old, when he started racing karts, but he is essentially just getting started on what is sure to be successful career in his 20s, 30s and beyond. Some would say Elliott was groomed to be a NASCAR driver, but a quick study of his accomplishments reveals it seemed to happen naturally. Whether you follow the sport or not, you should appreciate the fact that driving in a circle with 40 other cars at an average speed of close to 200 miles per hour takes skill. It takes physical stamina, mental stamina, concentration and skill. Will Elliott do extraordinary things in the Sprint Cup Series? Will he at the very least make it to The Chase, NASCAR’s version of the playoffs? Does he have the secret sauce to win over fans in the Cup Series? What will the ‘Chase Elliot’ brand represent? When you have just ten minutes with a guy destined to become a legend, you get straight to the point and ask him the hard questions — what about the pressure? We had an opportunity to catch up with the front runner for NASCAR’s Rookie of the Year award on the heels of the Great American Race, the Daytona 500, and we spoke candidly about his nickname, why he doesn’t feel pressure replacing Jeff Gordon, and about the advice he received from his NASCAR Hall of Fame dad, Bill Elliott.
Tam: My first question is something you’ve probably been asked before, but I try to ask questions that people who are new to NASCAR may or may not know. How did you get the nickname Chase?
CHASE: That’s a good question. When I was born, my mom and dad had—well they still have some really good friends who are actually my godparents. The lady’s name is Mary, and she thought I looked like a Chase and that’s what they needed to go with. For some reason it stuck and that’s just what it’s been.
Tam: It’s a perfect NASCAR name considering the series playoffs are called The Chase. Hopefully you’ll live up to the name and it will work out for you. (laughter)
CHASE: Hey, that’d be great.
Tam: Did you imagine you would move from Nationwide, now the XFINITY Series, to Cup Series so quickly?
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Read Tam’s full interview on MankindUnplugged.com
