Chase Elliott Is Nascar’s First 18-Year-Old Champion In History In Nationwide Series

Chase Elliott became NASCAR’s youngest champion Saturday at the end of the Nationwide Series. Elliott finished fifth in the DAV 200, a race honoring America’s veterans at Phoenix International Raceway, to win the 2014 and final Nationwide Series championship.

In a related report by The Inquisitr, Nascar driver Eric McClure and his wife Miranda already have five daughters. So when they found out that they are going to have another baby, a parody of “Let it Go” is how they decided to make the announcement.

The 18-year-old Chase Elliott driving for JR Mothersports, Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s team, finished fifth on Saturday at Phoenix, taking the Nationwide Series title. At the finish of the race, Elliott became the youngest champion in NASCAR’s history. This year was Elliot’s first full year in the Nationwide Series. Elliott has won three races and has 26 top 10s in 32 races.

“Honestly, I’m just in disbelief,” Chase Elliott told ESPN. “I don’t know what to think.

“I’ve never been a part of anything like this. Just to have the opportunity to work with a group of guys like we’ve had this year has just been a blessing for me to be here. I really don’t know how to think or what to feel right now.”

Chase Elliott is following in the footsteps of his father, Bill Elliott. Chase joins his father, NASCAR Hall of Fame inductee-elect Bill, as a national champion. In 1988 Bill won the Sprint Cup championship.

The younger Elliott wasn’t even born when his father won his championship. But in typical like father, like son response, the younger Elliott isn’t quite done yet, according to NBC Sports.

“This has been just a heck of a year. We’d like to have another win next week at Homestead. We’ll give it our best shot.”

In securing the title, Elliott has become the youngest champion in the history of NASCAR’s top three touring series at 18 years, 11 months, and 18 days, besting the mark set by Brian Vickers when he won the Nationwide Series title in 2003 at 20 years and two days, said FOX Sports.

This is very impressive considering other NASCAR stars such as Dale Earnhardt Jr., Ricky Stenhouse Jr., and Austin Dillon each won their first Nationwide Series championships at the age of 23. The first Nationwide Series title in 1982 by Jack Ingram at the age of 45.

The Elliott’s become the fifth father-son champions in NASCAR history:

• Ned Jarrett won two Sprint Cup championships, while son Dale won one title.
• Lee Petty won three Cup titles, son Richard won a record-tying seven.
• David Pearson won three Cup crowns, son Larry two Nationwide Series titles.
• The late Dale Earnhardt won a record-tying seven Cup titles, son Dale Jr. won two NNS crowns.

Chase Elliott made his family proud, and his father Bill extolled his son’s excellence as a driver, reported NBC Sports.

“To come into this season and have the incredible year this kid has been totally beyond belief. I just hope he keeps his head screwed on good and straight.

“He’s a very smart driver and individual and he really knows what he wants out of a race car. That’s 90 percent of the game. If he can keep going in that direction, he’ll be as good as they come.”

Chase’s mother Cindy Elliott called her son’s title “unbelievable.”

“I don’t know what to say. I asked Bill this morning did he ever imagine in his wildest dreams that we’d be going to the racetrack today and your son could win a NASCAR championship?

“He said, ‘No, never in my wildest dreams.’ For his dreams to have come true today, it’s just indescribable.”

Sharing in his parents excitement and amazement, Chase Elliot thanked his team that helped bring him this win.

“I’m so in disbelief. I don’t know how to feel right now. I cannot believe it. I really cannot. I’m just in disbelief. This is a testament to the guys on this team. They bring their A game every week.”

Chase Elliott also singled out teammate Regan Smith, who was his closest challenger for the championship.

“I really appreciate Regan with the way he raced me all year. Just a super classy guy and it’s been a lot of fun racing him this season.”

The making of NASCAR history was probably not what Chase Elliott and his family were expecting at the beginning of the year. But on Saturday, he made a mark on history at a young at of 18 with plenty more races ahead in his young life.