Nationwide Series champion, team to spend Tuesday in Columbus, Ohio
NASCAR Nationwide Series champion Chase Elliott and members of the No. 9 JR Motorsports team will be on the road Tuesday as they travel to Columbus, Ohio, home of the series sponsor, to be honored for their 2014 efforts.
The day-long schedule will include a visit to the Nationwide Children’s Hospital, a Marketing University panel discussion, autograph session, broom ball at Nationwide Arena, team dinner and taking in the Columbus Blue Jackets-Philadelphia Flyers NHL contest.
Elliott, who turned 19 on Nov. 28, became the youngest driver to win the series title this season. The Sunoco Rookie of the Year winner, Elliott scored his first series win at Texas Motor Speedway, and came back a week later to win his second race, at Darlington Raceway. He added a third victory later in the season at Chicagoland Speedway.
With crew chief Greg Ives leading the team, Elliott ended the year with 16 top-five and 26 top-10 finishes. He and teammate Regan Smith placed 1-2 in the series’ points standings.
JRM, which fields three teams in the series, is co-owned by Sprint Cup Series driver Dale Earnhardt Jr., sister Kelley Earnhardt Miller and Sprint Cup team owner Rick Hendrick.
Elliott wrapped up the title with one race remaining, thanks to a fifth-place finish at Phoenix International Raceway.
“It’s just been a very, very fun road,” Elliott said. “I feel very fortunate to have not just this year with Greg and with Dale and Kelley and Mr. Hendrick, and just honestly, the best group of people that you could possibly have surrounding you in racing in the past five years that I’ve been short track racing and whatnot.
“I feel like I’ve had the absolute best possible people there, too, and I feel like all these people along the way have made me look a heck of a lot better than I really am. It’s been an honor to work with these guys, and not just this year, but all along the way.”
Nationwide Insurance, which has served as series sponsor since 2008, will be replaced by XFINITY beginning in 2015. However, the company will remain involved in the sport through team sponsorship with Earnhardt Jr. as well as sponsor of the series’ race at Mid-Ohio.
“What they’ve done with this series … (it’s) in a whole lot better place than it was when they started,” Earnhardt Jr. said of Nationwide’’ involvement. “They’ve done a wonderful job being a part of our sport and representing our sport. They really love this series, and this series fit them very well.”
Ives, who will move over to become crew chief for Earnhardt Jr.’s No. 88 Sprint Cup team, and Earnhardt Jr. will be unable to join the team on the trip to Columbus due to their participation in a Goodyear tire test at Charlotte Motor Speedway scheduled for the same day.
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