Chase Elliott reflects on family legacy after winning his seventh Most Popular Driver award

On Friday night, Chase Elliott was awarded the NASCAR Cup Series Most Popular Driver award for the seventh year in a row. Of course, he isn’t even halfway to matching his dad’s record 16 MPD awards.

Every year since 1991 the Most Popular Driver award has gone to either an Elliott or an Earnhardt. The last time the winner came from outside of those two families was Darrell Waltrip’s final MPD award in 1990.

After winning the award, Chase Elliott reflected on what it meant for him, his family, and his fans. It isn’t something that he takes lightly.

“No I don’t think they’re excited or mad either way like regardless of the way it went. I think what I was getting at with my comments was just, if you do have the honor to receive the award I think it’s just representing that the right way and by the right way I just mean by the way that I think they would want it to be represented,” Elliott said in his media availability. “And really for me that’s all I care about. You know, because they laid the foundation for me to be here, and to have some of the opportunities that I’ve had throughout my career.

“So, I just look at it kind of from that perspective more than anything. Certainly grateful for the fans across the board they’ve been great to me throughout my career and I’ve had the fortunate experience of seeing all that and living that firsthand. It means a lot to me, I’ll never take it for granted. You know, certainly want to try to make those people proud as we move into next year and beyond.”

Chase Elliott has won this award so many times now. It would be easy to shrug it off. But Elliott understands what it means.

Chase Elliott expands on Most Popular Driver comments

A lot of NASCAR fans want Chase Elliott to be more public. He avoids the spotlight at times despite being the biggest name in the sport. He is also a 28-year-old that was thrust in the spotlight as a teenager in the Xfinity Series.

“More expansion of what I’ve already said, truthfully not to repeat myself too much. I think as I look at my fans and the people that truly, genuinely want to see us do well, I just see a lot of dedication and people who are willing to spend their hard-earned money on t-shirts and hats and come to the races and support us,” Elliott continued. “I see a lot of that at the race track, and I don’t take, I don’t want anyone to ever think that I take any of that for granted.

“You know, I understand that there’s a cost with all that and I appreciate all that support and our whole team does too. I think it’s very energizing to experience at the race track firsthand when we do get to see it. And yeah, just want to make those folks proud as we move into next year and I think we’ve done that thus far and I appreciate them always letting me be me and doing their best to support my endeavors and what I do and appreciating the way I do things. So, just grateful for a great fanbase.”

No one expects Chase Elliott to be like Tony Stewart. But being honest and open is a good start. These comments were really great and show the kind of person that Elliott is. It also shows why fans ride so hard for him. But I bet we only get at-track footage of him in the Netflix show.