Nationwide Series leader makes stop in Cape Girardeau

~ 18-year-old Chase Elliott is showing he is more than the son of a racing legend

He's gained most of his fame as the son of NASCAR legend Bill Elliott, but that's not the driving force behind the rising popularity of Chase Elliott.

In his first season on the Nationwide Series, Elliott has 1,068 points and holds a commanding 38-point lead at the top of the series standings ahead of JR Motorsports teammate Regan Smith.

Elliott's three victories and 14 top-five finishes are more than any other driver this season, and his No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet Camaro has finished outside the top-10 only six times all year.

With only four races remaining this season, Elliott has the opportunity to make history by becoming the first rookie to win the Nationwide Series.

Nationwide Series driver Chase Elliott smiles during qualifying for a NASCAR Nationwide Cup Series race this past summer. Elliott made a visit to a NAPA Auto Parts trade show at the Osage Centre on Tuesday. (Associated Press file)

The 18-year-old Georgia native spoke with the Southeast Missourian at a NAPA Auto Parts trade show Tuesday at the Osage Center in Cape Girardeau, where he discussed racing, hobbies and everything in between.

Q: When you started the Nationwide Series this season, did you envision being the points leader down the stretch?

A: Not really, to be 100 percent honest with you. I don't really know if I knew what to expect this season until we went and tried it. I've never been a part of a national touring series like that before, so honestly I didn't really know what to expect and what to know. I hadn't really done it, so until you go and give something a shot, you really don't know what it's going to bring. There were a lot of unknowns going into the season for sure.

Q: What was that first win like back in April at Texas Motor Speedway?

A: More shock than anything. I felt like once we kind of got started rolling into the season and really even before the season started and once I kind of got to JRM and saw the people that I was going to be working with, I really felt like this was a great group of guys. I knew they were going to do their job, and it was kind of up to me to do my part. I really felt like even before Texas, if I could do my job for them, then we could compete to win races. Fortunately, we were able to do that at Texas and get a couple wins to this point. We'd like to have some more before it's over with, so we've got four more shots to get some more before the season ends.

Q: Your résumé is decorated with accolades based on your youth. Does the difference in age ever intimidate you on the track?

A: Not really. There's always going to be somebody younger coming along, so I try not to pay that a whole lot of attention. It kind of is what it is. I don't really look at the age thing as a difference. It doesn't bother me. Obviously, I want to earn the respect of the other guys. At least for me, I look at them like I would look at any other racer. I hope they do the same for me.

Q: What's some of the best advice you've gotten from some of the veteran drivers out there?

A: I don't know of one thing. I've been fortunate enough to talk to a lot of great racers, and there are a lot of things they've told me. Whether it applies to a specific race track or something more broad, I don't really know of one term I could narrow it down to. There's just a lot of good information for sure.

Q: What are your thoughts on getting a veteran crew chief like Ernie Cope on board for next season?

A: I'm excited to have Ernie. We get along really well. I'm not worried about the transition at all. I think it'll be a pretty seamless transition from what we have now. I'm certainly disappointed with moving on from what we have now. We get along well. Greg [Ives] has become a good friend of mine. From that aspect, I hate to see him go, but at the same time, I'm really happy for him. I'm proud of the job that he's done for me and the job he's going to do for Dale [Earnhardt Jr.] next year.

Q: You've got a fascination with aviation as well. What draws you to that?

A: Honestly, just growing up and flying with my dad to races and stuff. I have a pretty big interest in that. I've always enjoyed it. It's just something I've always been around. This guy over here [close family friend John Chagaris] is my instructor, so hopefully one day I'll be able to finish that up.

Q: You're trying to get a pilot's license. Is that right?

A: Attempting. I've got a long ways to go.

Q: You're a big Georgia Bulldogs fan, so who do you think is going to win the SEC East?

A: Hopefully the Bulldogs, man. Go 'Dogs. I don't know. It's a mess, but they still have a chance. I'm not very smart with sports. I love to follow along, and I watch a ton of games. I'm always watching SportsCenter, but when it comes to picking who's going to win what, you might as well not ask me.

Q: What can NASCAR fans expect from Chase Elliott for years to come?

A: That's a good question. I don't know that I'm the one to ask for that one. We try to take it a week at a time and hope for the best. Beyond that, it's kind of out of your hands. I try not to get caught up in the future and what things could be, and I just focus on the opportunities you have right now and see where they lead.