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TALLADEGA, Ala. — This crowd of college students was certainly happy to see Chase Elliott.
Standing in the outfield of Talladega Superspeedway, they cheered and yelled over the sound of booming rap music for their favorite No. 24 driver’s entrance into his Chase University tailgate appearance on Saturday afternoon. Several more asked for autographs, many photos, which Elliott obliged.
Picture college students from Alabama, Auburn, Georgia — or even Indiana, as a fan clad in a Hoosiers cap said — all together at one tailgate.
Except they’re rooting for one team here — Elliott’s No. 24 team.
“This place is just so well-known for the party, I guess, and people coming and getting rowdy here,” Elliott told NASCAR.com on the way over to the event. “So, I think that’s probably why more than anything and then that reputation that it has attracts local college students.”
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Saturday’s Chase U appearance was the sixth for Elliott, who started this initiative back in October 2016 because he wanted to provide an affordable good time for college students at the race track. A $24 ticket with a valid college ID grants a student admission to the entire weekend experience, including the race and the tailgate with music, games and more.
“I think it’s a bargain, really,” Elliott said. “There are a lot of things that come along with it for that price. From that side, the race tracks have been great and really good to work with and support that.”
While Elliott’s budding racing career keeps him from having a typical college experience, the Chase U initiative has allowed the 21-year-old to have a little taste of it at the race track.
“I have a lot of friends that are in school, so I kind of see some of the things that they do and some of the things that they’re interested in,” said Elliott, who met three of his buddies at Saturday’s tailgate. “So (I) thought it might be a cool way to invite people like that to have a good time.
“… To me, (it has been fun) to see some of the different towns that we’ve done it in, some of the different schools and surrounding cities. Just getting to see … the diversity there is fun to see and how people kind of do things different.”
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Standing up on stage in front of a rather boisterous crowd, Elliott seemed to jell just fine with the collegiate crowd. An avid Georgia Bulldogs fan, Elliott gave a playful thumbs-down to the Alabama fans when the Crimson Tide was brought up, but showed his stamp of approval when the announcer asked if there were any ‘Dawgs in the crowd.
Talladega was one of the first places the Chase U initiative was implemented last year and a track where Elliott hopes to host another at in the fall, he says.
Because for these college students — and a young driver like Elliott — it’s all about the fun.
“I think this one here last year was probably my favorite one here at Talladega,” Elliott said. “It was a good turnout; we’re having a great time. And that’s really all I’m trying to provide is a fun time. Everybody wants to have fun. That’s why people come to races, I hope, and that’s my main goal.”