When Chase Elliott casually asked if there was a prize for winning the in-season tournament, it wasn’t a joke. He genuinely didn’t know about the $1 million reward—a moment that left fans and fellow drivers both baffled and unsurprised. Elliott’s reputation for tuning out the noise around NASCAR is well known. He’s not the type to chase headlines or obsess over stats; he simply races. But now that he’s clued in on what’s at stake, things might change.
Coming off a strong top-five at Pocono—his second in a row—Elliott is quietly gaining momentum. He fought through a loose setup and grip issues, showing the grit of a driver finding rhythm at the right time. Though he hasn’t won in over 40 races, the tide feels like it’s turning.
Denny Hamlin once thought Elliott’s detached demeanor was calculated. Now, even Hamlin believes it’s just who Chase is—someone who lives for the laps, not the spotlight. But with the tournament heating up and tracks like Chicago, Sonoma, and Watkins Glen on the horizon—where Elliott thrives—he may be poised to strike.
The million-dollar question now isn’t whether Elliott cares—it’s how dangerous he becomes now that he does. With his trademark focus and a hefty prize in play, don’t be surprised if Chase turns this summer into a statement run, snapping the drought in dramatic fashion. The switch is flipped, and Elliott’s eyes are on the bag.
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