NASCAR champion Chase Elliott on Georgia Bulldogs: "I Think This Year Could be It"

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ATHENS - NASCAR champion Chase Elliott says that his home state is ready to watch Kirby Smart and the Georgia Bulldogs bring home the national title once and for all. 

"I want to see it happen. I’m ready. I think this entire state is ready for it. I want to see them be on top of the mountain this year,” the 25-year old Elliott told ESPN’s Marty and McGee Saturday. 

Elliott is racing at Atlanta Motor Speedway Sunday. He is currently sixth in NASCAR’s standings, and has already qualified for the series’ playoffs, which start soon. A staunch Georgia fan, Elliott grew up in Dawsonville watching his legendary father Bill Elliott race in NASCAR. Both drivers have been voted the most popular driver for NASCAR multiple times. 

Smart and Elliott have talked about one another often in the media - with both using Billie Jean King’s “pressure is a privilege” catchphrase often to describe their situations. 

After Elliott won the first race of his carer, Smart compared his program to the driver’s situation. 

“He’s had a lot of close, close finishes and now for him to push it over the top, that’s what we’re trying to do as well,” Smart said.

Elliott went on to tell Marty and McGee that he was confident the Bulldogs could break their 40-year national title drought.

“I probably sound like every other fan across the Southeast, but I think this year could be it, boys," Elliott said. "I really do.”

The Bulldogs open the 2021 season in Charlotte against the Clemson Tigers. The game will be in primetime on ABC. 

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