CONCORD, N.C. -- The 2020 championship celebrations continued for Chase Elliott Monday night after he was honored by the Georgia Racing Hall of Fame with his own exhibit.
The reigning NASCAR Cup Series champion commemorated the occasion in his hometown of Dawsonville, Georgia, where the Georgia Racing Hall of Fame is based. He said he’s proud to represent the Dawsonville community and bring a Cup title home to his fans.
“I think the biggest thing I can do is just appreciate the area and appreciate the people that support me,” Elliott said of giving back to his hometown. “I feel like I always try to do that. I don’t know if I will necessarily do anything different this year, but I respect the folks who have supported me over the years.”
The exhibit displays items from Elliott's racing career, including personal tokens he’s saved over the years. The exhibit also highlights Elliott's impressive 2020 season where he won five points-paying races, including the penultimate event at Martinsville Speedway and the Championship 4 race at Phoenix Raceway.
He became the third-youngest Cup Series champion in history and joins his father, Bill Elliott, as the only two drivers to win a championship and most popular driver honors in the same year.
“The Georgia Racing Hall of Fame is way more than Dad and I. There’s a lot here, and a lot of things that people should see,” Elliott said. “(There are) a lot of race car drivers that you might not know are from Georgia that have deep ties into the sport. I definitely hope that people have a chance to stop through and support it, because this is a passionate town and a passionate state for racing, and we should all appreciate that.”
The exhibit was just one part of the festivities paying homage to the 25-year-old driver. Elliott was presented with his championship ring, a gold 1:12 scale diecast of his championship-winning car, and it was announced the state of Georgia will recognize Feb. 9, 2021, as Chase Elliott Day.
“I guess if I were to get a speeding ticket, that would be the day to do it,” Elliott joked. “It’s super cool. The state of Georgia has been beyond supportive of me, and my dad, too, and our family. With racing in general, there’s so much history of drivers and families from the area (who) have had a very deep history with the beginning of NASCAR.”
Even though Elliott has made a name for himself in the racing world, he’s proud to have his life rooted in Dawsonville. He called himself lucky to be able to permanently live in his hometown and have a successful career that allows him to stay close to family and friends.
“For me, I’m proud to be from here,” Elliott said. “That pride carries with you, for sure. I think, for everybody, home is home, right? Whether that’s here in Georgia or wherever you’re from. I feel like you’re always going to have that deep tie to your hometown and the area you grew up in. ... I do put effort into staying here. I call it home. I enjoy the area. I think it’s a great place to live, and this city in particular, and the state, have really been supportive of me over the course of my career. I hope to call it home for a long time.”