Chase Elliott, driver of the No. 9 Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports, will go head-to-head with three other nominees for the Best Driver honor at the 2021 ESPYS on July 10.
In 2020, Elliott won the All-Star Race at Bristol Motor Speedway and grabbed his first Cup championship at Phoenix Raceway, becoming the third-youngest Cup Series champion in NASCAR history.
The 25-year-old first-time nominee will be up against IndyCar’s Scott Dixon, NHRA’s Erica Enders and Formula 1’s Lewis Hamilton.
“I’m super grateful for the consideration,” Elliott said. ” … Those are some great race car drivers, obviously different disciplines than what we do on the NASCAR side, but I feel like anybody who’s involved in motorsports, you have an appreciation for other types (of racing) and I’ve always respected those names. It’s crazy. I’m honored and very grateful for the consideration.”
RELATED: Vote for Best Driver of 2020
Elliott has had eight top-five finishes this season and was named the Most Popular Driver in the Cup Series in 2018, ’19 and ’20.
Hendrick Motorsports is having a historic run in 2021, having become the winningest Cup Series team in NASCAR history in May, surpassing Petty Enterprises, at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
The ESPYS were held remotely last year and a best driver was not awarded, but NASCAR’S Kyle Busch was the last driver to get the honor at the 2019 ceremony.
Fans can vote here and watch the live ceremony at 8 p.m. ET on July 10 on ABC.
| Driver | ESPY Wins |
Years honored |
| Jeff Gordon | 4 | 1996, 1998, 1999, 2007 |
| Jimmie Johnson | 4 | 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 |
| Tony Stewart | 3 | 2003, 2006, 2012 |
| Kyle Busch | 2 | 2016, 2019 |
| Dale Earnhardt Jr. | 1 | 2004 |
| Kevin Harvick | 1 | 2015 |
| Dale Jarrett | 1 | 2000 |
| Bobby Labonte | 1 | 2001 |
| Martin Truex Jr. | 1 | 2018 |