CONCORD, N.C. – This week, an episode of the “Dale Jr. Download” was released featuring Chase Elliott. On the podcast, the two most recent Most Popular Driver winners discussed a wide variety of topics including Elliott’s family, hometown and passions away from the track.
Elliott also chatted with host Dale Earnhardt Jr. about his recently revealed No. 9 Hooters Spirits Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, which will hit the track under the lights at Bristol Motor Speedway in August.
It’s one of a number of fresh paint schemes Elliott will pilot in the next few months – in September, he will drive a throwback at Darlington Raceway that pays homage to one of his father’s very first race cars.
Elliott has what Earnhardt called a “family dynasty” when it comes to racing. And outside of racing, the Elliott family also shares a love of flying.
Since he lives in Dawsonville, Georgia, Elliott often flies himself to Concord, North Carolina, when he heads to the Hendrick Motorsports campus.
“I remember being a kid and being lucky enough to fly places with dad,” the driver of the No. 9 Chevy said. “I think that’s where my passion came from. I was fortunate to have access to airplanes when I was 16 years old and I was able to take lessons. I love it. It is a very serious thing. It’s a challenge. It reminds me of a lot of racing on the weekends, where you’re the only one in the car and you’ve got to be able to make decisions and figure out what is best. It's similar to that in an airplane.”
Listen to the full podcast here, and check out the episode this evening at 5 p.m. ET on NBCSN.