AVONDALE, ARIZONA - NOVEMBER 08: Chase Elliott, driver of the #9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet, and crew celebrate in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Cup Series Season Finale 500 and the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series Championship at Phoenix Raceway on November 08, 2020 in Avondale, Arizona. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
Chase Elliott to run 2021 Chili Bowl Nationals
Shane Walters
NASCAR champion heading to the dirt track and other short track events
Chase Elliott is the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series champion. The driver claimed his first series title earlier this month with a win at Phoenix Raceway.
See Chase Elliott’s dirt midget below.
Earlier this week, Elliott announced that he will be joining the 2020 Snowball Derby field. That asphalt late model event takes place at Five Flags Speedway in Pensacola, Florida.
It doesn’t stop there. Yesterday, it was announced that Elliott will be completing in the famed Chili Bowl Nationals. It’s a dirt midget event hosted inside the Tulsa Expo Center.
The Chili Bowl Nationals will run from Jan. 11-16 in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Ahead of the event, Elliott plans to get familiar with the machine. He’ll race on the dirt at Millbridge Speedway in Salisbury, N.C. on Dec. 12-13
“Going and testing is one thing, but being around people and knowing how to work guys in traffic is important,” Chase Elliott told The Athletic.
“Anybody who thinks you’re going to show up (at the Chili Bowl) and have a shot at the A-Main on your first stab is stupid.”
Elliott added, “I respect it from the outside looking in and realize how much time and effort you have to put in to be good.”
Additionally, it’s been rumored that both Chase Elliott and Jimmie Johnson will run the Rolex 24. That rumor was started by NASCAR team owner Rick Hendrick who later said, “I may have spoke too soon on that one.” As he thought that news had already been announced.