NBC’s NASCAR coverage took a nostalgic trip to celebrate Chase Elliott’s triumphant return to his roots after clinching the 2020 Cup championship. After securing the title, Elliott, driving the iconic #9 car for Hendrick Motorsports, made a memorable journey back to his hometown of Dawsonville, Georgia, where he was met with a hero’s welcome.
In the decisive final race of the season, held for the first time at the 1-mile Arizona oval, Elliott outshone formidable competitors including Denny Hamlin, Brad Keselowski, and Joey Logano. Hamlin was striving for his maiden Cup Series title, while Team Penske’s Keselowski and Logano were each eyeing their second championship. By clinching the championship in only his sixth season in the Cup Series, Chase Elliott became the third-youngest champion in NASCAR history at the age of 24 years, 11 months, and 11 days.
Only two legends were younger when they won their titles: Jeff Gordon, who earned his first championship in 1995 at 24 years, three months, and eight days old, and Bill Rexford, who was 23 when he won in 1950. After his back-to-back victories at Phoenix and Martinsville, Elliott celebrated by driving his championship-winning car through the streets of Dawsonville, delighting his hometown fans with thrilling burnouts.
NBC’s NASCAR coverage captured this momentous celebration, sharing a video of Elliott’s burnouts with the caption: “How cool was this? Chase Elliott took his championship-winning car to Dawsonville and did some burnouts for fans.”
Three months post-victory, the Georgia Racing Hall of Fame honored Elliott with a special exhibit. Expressing his pride in representing Dawsonville, Elliott felt immense joy in bringing the Cup title back to his community. The exhibit showcased various memorabilia from his racing career, including personal items and highlights from his victorious 2020 season, during which he won five points-paying races, including crucial victories at Martinsville Speedway and Phoenix Raceway.
However, Elliott’s journey was not without its challenges. In 2023, despite having a strong car, he endured a winless season, marking a frustrating 42-race stretch without a victory since his last win at Talladega in October
