Chase Elliott Wins NASCAR Cup Series Championship at Phoenix Raceway

Second-generation NASCAR driver Chase Elliott achieved a monumental victory on Sunday, winning the biggest race of his life at the Phoenix Raceway. Elliott, who started from the rear of the field, managed to cross the finish line first in the Series Finale 500, thus earning his first career NASCAR Cup Series championship at the young age of 24. This victory makes Elliott the youngest champion in NASCAR’s premier series in 25 years.

Ultimately, Elliott secured the win by 2.74 seconds over fellow title contender Brad Keselowski from Team Penske. Other notable finishers included Team Penske’s Joey Logano in third and Joe Gibbs Racing’s Denny Hamlin in fourth place.

Jimmie Johnson, a seven-time NASCAR champion and 45-year-old driver, finished fifth in his final race as a full-time Cup Series participant. He congratulated his younger Hendrick Motorsports teammate Elliott on the track, symbolizing a significant “changing of the guard” in the sport.

“Awesome, awesome, awesome!” Elliott exclaimed into his team radio after claiming the championship. “We are the champions!”

Race Highlights and Strategy

During the race, three of the four title contenders led laps at the 1-mile desert oval. While Logano led for 125 laps and Keselowski led 16 laps, it was Elliott’s 153 laps in the lead that showcased his determination, talent, and the No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet team’s thorough preparation. His position in the championship field was secured following a clutch victory the previous week at Martinsville Speedway, allowing him to capitalize on that momentum at Phoenix Raceway.

Elliott took the lead from Logano decisively with 43 laps remaining in the 312-lap race, demonstrating the performance of his team after the car struggled with pre-race inspections and had to start in last place among the 39-car field.

From the beginning, Elliott’s focus was unmistakable, as he climbed from a 15th position by Lap 15. Leading for the first time at Lap 79, he showcased his skill by consistently battling other title contenders, ultimately settling the championship among themselves.

“Obviously, when you don’t win, it hurts; it stings,” noted Logano. “I told the guys before the race, you can’t lose. You either win or you get stronger. Unfortunately, we got stronger today.”

Historic Win and Emotional Reactions

With this championship, Elliott joins an elite group of drivers, becoming only the third father-son combination to win the NASCAR Cup Series championship, alongside Lee and Richard Petty, and Ned and Dale Jarrett. Elliott’s father, Bill, who was the 1988 series champion, witnessed the race from the sidelines and offered his son a simple yet effective piece of advice for the day.

“He told me, ‘All you have to do is beat three people,'” Elliott shared. “He said all week he felt confident we could come out here and do this. And he was right.”

“This is a moment I’ve dreamed about. This is all I’ve ever wanted to do—to be a race car driver and race in NASCAR. To be honest, I’m humbled,” he added.

Elliott’s close friend Ryan Blaney finished sixth, followed by Kevin Harvick, Matt DiBenedetto, William Byron, and Martin Truex Jr.

Clint Bowyer, transitioning to the Fox television booth, and former champion Matt Kenseth, who is returning to retirement, finished 14th and 25th respectively in their final race. Crew chief Chad Knaus, who led Johnson’s seven titles, guided Hendrick driver Byron to a ninth-place finish.

Additionally, Stewart-Haas Racing’s Cole Custer, who qualified for the playoffs with a victory at Kentucky Speedway this summer, wrapped up the 2020 Sunoco Rookie of the Year honors by finishing 28th.

“I’m at a loss for words; this is unbelievable,” said Elliott. “Oh, my gosh. We did it. I mean, we did it. That’s all I’ve got to tell you. Unreal.”

“Crew chief Alan Gustafson is now a NASCAR Cup Series champion and very deserving. I just can’t say enough about our group. I felt like we took some really big strides this year, and last week was a huge one. To come out of that with a win and a shot to come here and have a chance to race is unbelievable,” Elliott concluded.

Looking ahead, the next race for the NASCAR Cup Series is the 2021 Daytona 500, scheduled for Sunday, February 14—only 98 days away.