Amidst all of the controversy with NASCAR’s playoff format and what we saw on Friday that was a disappointing finish to the truck series season, the tour had some pressure under them to perform today at Phoenix.
There were storylines aplenty, full of intriguing things to watch away from the title fight, but was the battle between the top four going to deliver?
Chase Elliott did.
The driver of the No. 9 NAPA Chevrolet – driving one of his most aggressive races of his career – was able to best the field and win his first NASCAR Cup Series championship on Sunday.
He did it after starting from the rear of the pack, too.
Elliott failed pre-race inspection twice forcing him to be relegated to the back prior to the start of the race while the other three championship contenders started in the front two rows.
By the first competition caution of the race – 30 laps in – Elliott had made it up to 10th.
He traded the lead with Joey Logano throughout the day, the pair taking turns on leading long stretches of the race.
Eventually, with less than 50 laps to go, Elliott made it past Logano to make the race-winning and title-winning pass on the No. 22.
Chase Elliott passes Joey Logano to take the lead with 40 laps left.
Y'all think he wins this?
🎥 @NASCARonNBC pic.twitter.com/LL8g1WXNuZ
— Connor Ferguson (@cfchangs9) November 8, 2020
Thanks to his pit crew, Elliott was in position to quickly chase Logano down and make the pass. That’s a department Hendrick Motorsports had dropped the ball in in the past.
Nonetheless, Elliott completed the race in first.
The highest finishing driver outside of the Championship 4 was fittingly Jimmie Johnson.
In his final appearance in the Hendrick Motorsports 48 car, Johnson ended his full-time NASCAR career with a top 5, four spots behind the young gun that wants to be the next version of the king.
Now, its time to sound the si-reen and celebrate, as NASCAR fans cheer on for their most popular driver.
Season Finale 500 Results
1. Chase Elliott
2. Brad Keseloski
3. Joey Logano
4. Denny Hamlin
5. Jimmie Johnson
6.