The future of NASCAR is here.

5th year Cup Series driver Chase Elliott took his 5th win of the 2020 season in Sunday’s Season Finale 500 at Phoenix Raceway to win the championship, the first of his career. The 24 year old led 153 out of 312 laps en route to the win, the 11th of his career.  Elliott had to start at the rear of the field after failing his first two tries through inspection, but he quickly worked his way up towards the front, finishing 3rd in stage 1 behind two of his championship competitors. In a race where passing was hard to come by due to the prevalence of the top lane over the bottom, Elliott made passes using that bottom lane with relative ease, showcasing the flat out speed in his NAPA Chevrolet. Elliott clinched his Xfinity Series title in 2014 at Phoenix Raceway, so it was almost like deja vu for Elliott, but this one was much sweeter, as winning the Cup Series is the pinnacle of all American motorsports, and possibly the most coveted position worldwide. “I’m not sure that I still even know,” Elliott said when asked what the championship means to him. “I just, man, I’m at a loss for words. This is unbelievable. Oh, my gosh. We did it. I mean, we did it. That’s all I’ve got to tell you. Unreal.” (Staff Report, 2020) He struggled to earn a win for years, as the 2016 Rookie of the Year didn’t win a race until 2018, amassing 8 second place finishes before earning that first win. However, he’s consistently made trips to victory lane since then, as he won 3 times in 2018 and 2019 before achieving his career-high of 5 victories in a season this year. Now, he’s the third youngest champion in NASCAR history. “Championship 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.” (Staff Report, 2020) Elliott’s father, Hall of Famer Bill Elliott, won 44 races and the 1988 championship in his career, so Chase has already matched his father in the championship column with many years ahead of him in the Cup Series. Showing that he’s capable of winning titles at this young of an age, I firmly believe that this is not the last Chase Elliott championship we’ll see. The Dawsonville, Georgia native has more coming his way in the future.

While NASCAR fans were celebrating the maiden championship victory of NASCAR’s most popular driver, we were also reflecting upon the legendary career of Jimmie Johnson and the career of Clint Bowyer, as they both completed their final race on Sunday. Johnson won 7 championships and 83 races at NASCAR’s top level, tying him for the most titles of all time and the sixth-most wins of all time. Johnson put together one of his best performances of the whole season to put an exclamation point on his all time great career, finishing 5th. Johnson was the best finisher that wasn’t competing for a championship, as the Championship 4 finished positions 1 through 4. “My bucket is full,” Johnson said. “NASCAR has been so wonderful for me. This journey has been more than I could have ever dreamed of or expected or hoped for.” (Waack, 2020) While Johnson’s success on the track is obvious, the class he conducted himself with is what so many people within the industry will remember as his defining quality. A guy who won 5 championships in a row(2006-2010) has every right to brag and be obnoxious about it, as nobody would have any argument to present to make him stop, as he was unbeatable in those years. However, Johnson always took the high road and respected his competitors and fans alike, garnering tons of respect for it, which was more than warranted. Johnson was appreciative that he had the opportunity to retire when he wanted, knowing that drivers like Dale Earnhardt Jr. have had injuries that have forced them to retire maybe earlier than they would’ve otherwise hung the helmet up. “I have friends that have been NASCAR drivers, friends of mine that have played professional football, professional baseball,” Johnson said. “Very few have had the opportunity to call their shot and say when they’re gone. Some have had injury, some were forced out, some sponsorship or opportunity passed them by. And either way, watching them, there’s a big voice that I’ve noticed. I’m just thankful I won’t have that void.” (Waack, 2020) Johnson will participate in 13 NTT Data Indycar Series races in 2021 for Chip Ganassi Racing, which is all of the road course and street course events. As for Clint Bowyer, who won 10 Cup Series race and the Xfinity Series title in 2008, he will stay involved with NASCAR as an analyst for FOX Sports for their NASCAR coverage starting in 2021. One of the most entertaining personalities NASCAR has ever seen, Bowyer’s lightheartedness and sense of humor has been a staple of his personality and should allow him to be an instant fan favorite in the booth. Matt Kenseth may have also run his last race, as Ross Chastain will take over his #42 car next season. While no formal announcement was made, Kenseth had no plans to run any races entering this season, but took over the #42 when Kyle Larson was released by Chip Ganassi Racing due to his use of a racial slur on a Twitch stream. Kenseth, the 2003 champion, has won 39 Cup Series events in his career, the last of which came in Phoenix in 2017.

The 2020 season was a unique one that nobody ever could’ve predicted. NASCAR, thank you for your continued dedication to supplying us fans with the best product you guys can. It’s absolutely incredible that a season happened at all, and to get all 36 races in despite all of the setbacks we were faced with is absolutely incredible. Moments like the miraculous recovery of Ryan Newman, the incredible wins by Cole Custer and Austin Dillon over the summer, and the emergence of a superstar in Chase Elliott are all going to be remembered by fans for years to come. I can say as a fan that 2020 was one of the best years I’ve had the privilege of watching racing. It was the light that so many of us needed in the dark times we’ve all been faced with in 2020. NASCAR, thank you for being that light, and I can’t wait for Daytona Day in February!

My super early prediction to be the 2021 champion is Kyle Busch.

Enjoy the offseason race fans!

Written on November 10th, 2020

Sources:

Staff Report.(8 November 2020). Chase Elliott Wins 2020 NASCAR Cup Series Championship: NASCAR. Retrieved 9 November 2020, from Official Site Of NASCAR, www.nascar.com/news-media/2020/11/08/chase-elliott-wins-2020-nascar-cup-series-championship/.

Waack, Terrin.(9 November 2020). Jimmie Johnson’s Last Full Season Concludes at Phoenix: NASCAR. Retrieved 10 November 2020, from Official Site Of NASCAR, www.nascar.com/news-media/2020/11/08/jimmie-johnson-full-time-cup-series-career-finale-phoenix-raceway/.