Chase Elliott Wins SRX Race At Sold-Out Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway

Photo: Courtesy of the Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway

2020 NASCAR champion Chase Elliott took the win at Saturday’s SRX Series finale in front of a sold-out crowd at the Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway. His father, Bill Elliot finished in third, while NASCAR legend and SRX co-founder Tony Stewart finished in second, winning the inaugural season.

This is Elliott’s first race and win at the Fairgrounds since he took home the guitar trophy back in 2013. The race marked his second opportunity to compete with his father who was crowned the 1988 NASCAR Cup champion. Bill won the first heat with Chase coming in second, but after 70 laps and some close racing, it was the 24-year-old Elliott who won it all.

“I got to race against two of my heroes, I got to race against [my] dad at the end and throughout the race and those are moments I’ll cherish forever,” shared Chase. “I don’t know what lit a fire under him tonight, but he was as aggressive as I’ve seen him in years.”

Behind Bill Elliott were Bobby Labonte, Paul Tracy, Michael Waltrip, Tony Kanaan, Hélio Castroneves, Hailie Deegan, Marco Andretti, and Willy T. Ribbs, who did not finish.

“How could you ask for more than to finish between two Elliotts?” said Stewart. “That’s pretty badass in itself, and we really appreciate NASCAR and Hendrick Motorsports for letting Chase come run with us. It means a lot to us, and it means a lot to Bill.”

Chase Elliott expressed his excitement about racing with his dad and his desire to return to the Fairgrounds Speedway in a pre-race interview. “I’m checking off two boxes this weekend,” Chase explained. “Being able to race with dad and being back at the Nashville Fairgrounds, I hope this is a sign of great things to come.”

In June, NASCAR made its return to the Nashville Superspeedway after 37 years of not racing in the city. NASCAR has not been to Nashville’s fairgrounds since 1984.

Steven Boero