Chase Elliott is still a few months short of 18, but he has several NASCAR Camping World Truck Series starts under his belt. A beneficiary of the new rule that allows drivers 16 and up on tracks 1.1 miles or below in length, Elliott has impressed in the No. 94 Turner Scott Motorsports Chevy. Finishes of 6th, 5th, 4th, and 5th and 15 laps led at Dover have turned heads, as has his becoming the youngest ARCA winner on a superspeedway. Elliott captured Pocono Raceway honors in June. Many know Elliott is a Hendrick Motorsports development driver and that he still runs as many short track races as he can for his dad's Bill Elliott Racing team. But few, if any, know the exact game plan Rick Hendrick and Bill Elliott have to move Chase up through the ranks. The Tuesday news of Aaron's upping its backing of Michael Waltrip Racing and Brian Vickers for 2014 in the Sprint Cup Series means the relationship between the Georgia company and the Georgia driver Elliott could be diminished. No one is saying that for sure, but it certainly is a possibility.
Prior to Saturday's World Crown 300 at Gresham Motorsports Park, Elliott talked to News/Talk WSB about what his 2014 plans may be.
"There's nothing that's hammered out, that's definite by any means. Obviously, I hope we go race full-time in something," Elliott said in the team's hauler before the night's events. "I'd be happy if we were running full-time in the Truck Series; I'd be completely satisfied there. As long as we're racing full-time somewhere, I'm not going to be disappointed."
This obviously leaves the door open for plenty and nothing is a given. But considering the amount HMS has already invested in Elliott, don't expect him to be anything less than full-time somewhere in NASCAR next year, whether that be in NCTWS or the Nationwide Series and whether the sponsor be Aaron's or another company.
Elliott also talked about how he handles the growing buzz around him and his thoughts on his quick success in the NCWTS and ARCA. Hear the full interview: Listen and/or Download