A 2015 rewind and a 2016 preview for the top five finishers last season in the NASCAR XFINITY and Camping World Truck Series. Today: Chase Elliott, the second-place finisher in the XFINITY Series standings.
Team: JR Motorsports No. 9 Chevrolet (2015); Hendrick Motorsports No. 24 Chevrolet in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (2016)
Wins: 1 (Richmond 2)
Strides: As defending series champion, expectations were high for Elliott, even though he turned 20 only a few days after the season ended. With a premium Sprint Cup Series ride awaiting him at Hendrick Motorsports in 2016, the talented youngster had high aspirations for his final full-time ride in the XFINITY Series. While Elliott won a race (Richmond) and posted 27 top 10s in 33 starts, he finished just shy (a slim 15 points) of the consistent Chris Buescher, who ultimately hoisted the 2015 XFINITY season trophy.
Setbacks: The superspeedways were the obvious stumbles for the talented second-generation driver. He finished 28th in the season-opener at Daytona Beach and 37th at Talladega eight races later — subpar finishes that more than accounted for the championship difference despite a victory and valiant final effort of eight top-10 showings in the final nine races.
Quoteworthy: “Once our season got done and wrapped up and thinking about Daytona and transitioning to HMS, it’s all kinda coming true and I’m obviously very excited. I think everybody always tells me I’ve got big shoes to fill. I’m not trying to fill anybody’s shoes, just make mine notable and do the best you can. I hope that becomes the case the more we go along in this deal.”
What’s next: Elliott will undoubtedly be a Sprint Cup Series Rookie of the Year contender to watch in 2016, taking over the No. 24 Chevrolet driven by Jeff Gordon for most of the past three decades. Elliott has yet to record a top-10 Cup run in five starts, but with a marquee NASCAR championship under his belt and the hopes — and blessings — of so many, the two-time XFINITY Series Most Popular Driver is in prime position to make a mark in 2016 and start a career already designated with great promise.