Hendrick Motorsports has signed 15-year-old Chase Elliott to a multiyear driver agreement.
Elliott, the son of 1988 NASCAR Cup Series champion Bill Elliott, will continue to compete for his family-owned team until meeting age requirements for entering NASCAR national-series events. Bill Elliott Racing, based in Dawsonville, Ga., will field Chevrolets with support from Hendrick Motorsports for Chase until that time.
“The apple hasn’t fallen far from the tree with Chase,” team owner Rick Hendrick said. “I’ve always admired Bill’s ability in a race car and how he handled himself with the fans. I see those same traits in Chase, with his natural driving talent and an awareness of what he needs to do away from the track to be successful. He comes from a great racing family, and it shows.
“We think it’s a terrific situation. Chase already has a strong support system in place (in Dawsonville) that will allow him to focus on his education and grow as a driver, and Hendrick Motorsports will provide whatever kind of assistance the Elliotts need in any area.”
Chase Elliott, a freshman in high school, has already been competing regularly. In 40 Late Model starts last season, he posted 13 victories, 27 top-five finishes and 37 top 10s.
“I’ve always been taught that teamwork and people are important, and that’s something Mr. Hendrick really believes in,” he said. “Everyone at Hendrick Motorsports has high standards and takes a lot of pride in what they do. Racing with all of their support, and the support of my family, is going to be incredible. I’m going to work really hard to make them proud and make the most of this opportunity.”
In 2010, Elliott became the youngest driver to win the Blizzard Series at Five Flags Speedway in Pensacola, Fla., the Miller Lite Series at Mobile (Ala.) International Speedway and the overall Sunoco Gulf Coast championship. The Dawsonville native also posted victories in the prestigious Winchester 400 and at the reopening of historic North Wilkesboro (N.C.) Speedway.
Elliott already is 2 for 2 in 2011 after sweeping the Speedfest late-model features last month at Lanier National Speedway in Braselton, Ga. This season, he plans to enter a combination of super late model, pro late model and NASCAR regional touring series events.
