Chase Elliott Eyes Second Nascar Cup Series Championship

Nascar’s most popular driver needed some time to adjust to the Next Gen racecar. But now that he has, driver No. 9 is eyeing his second Nascar Cup Series championship.

Elliott got off to a roaring start in the new car in 2022, winning five races. However, between 2023 and now, he only has one win as he’s adjusted his driving style to the new car.

This year, Elliott has a fresh mentality. A new, sleek look to his No. 9 NAPA Chevrolet may help with that, too.

Through 10 races, Elliott sits fourth in the standings with six top 10s. However, as a champion, he is not satisfied.

“It’s been OK; I don’t think we’ve been spectacular by any stretch,” Elliott said. “I thought we had a good first four to five weeks, including the Clash. Nothing has been a gold star sticker besides the Clash weekend, but unfortunately, that one doesn’t count for a whole lot. We have a long season left, and I’m looking forward to the grind.”

The No. 9 team, led by crew chief Alan Gustafson, came out of the gates running to kick of the 2025 season. They dominated the entire weekend at Bowman Gray Stadium, winning the pole and leading 171 of 200 laps.

“I knew how little that meant just because I’ve been on the other side of it,” Elliott said of winning the preseason exhibition race. “Even if you don’t have a good Clash, that doesn’t mean you’re going to start off bad. If you have a good Clash weekend, that doesn’t mean it’s all going to go good.

“We hope we can get some good momentum as we get to some of these more normal racetracks throughout the summer months.”

During Elliott’s championship-winning season in 2020, he won five races with 22 top 10s. But to do it again this year, he’ll first need to break into victory lane. This weekend’s race at Texas Motor Speedway marks one year since his win, and he is hungry to repeat.

Elliott made a stop in New York City last week before competing at Talladega Superspeedway, promoting the MLB Speedway Classic on Saturday, Aug. 2 at Bristol Motor Speedway, the first MLB game held at a Nascar track.

Back on the track, Elliott is focused on having front of the pack speed on a more consistent basis. His 10.9 average finish is solid, but he’s only led 45 laps this year, with 42 of those coming at Martinsville Speedway.

Elliott has also brought in new partners, as well. Amazon Prime Video debuted as a primary sponsor for his No. 9 team at Talladega. The three-race deal extends through 2027, which coincides with his HMS contract. Prime’s first Nascar race weekend is set for Memorial Day weekend with the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, with Elliott’s HMS teammate Kyle Larson attempting “The Double” for the second year in a row.

And NAPA continues to be pleased with its long-term relationship with Elliott, with the No. 9 car being wrapped in the brand’s colors for 26 races.

“We did a shoot with them a few months ago in preparation for their summer series,” Elliott said of Amazon Prime Video. “It’s a natural collaboration with the races they’re streaming coming up soon. For me, it’s a great opportunity to be aligned with a company that has a reach in an infinite amount of directions. There’s a lot of opportunities for us to take that partnership and help grow the sport with it.”