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“Such a Down-to-Earth Guy” – NASCAR Champ Chase Elliott Earns High Praise From Rolex 24 Teammates

Published 01/26/2021, 12:13 PM EST

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Chase Elliott and Co. got off to the perfect start in the upcoming Rolex 24 at Daytona. Driving the No.31 Cadillac, drivers Pipo Derani and Felipe Nasr ensured pole position in qualifying for Saturday’s racing spectacle.

It may have been just a few weeks, but the 2020 Cup Series champion’s demeanor has impressed Derani and Nasr. Speaking in an interview, they highlighted his willingness to learn amongst other qualities.

Chase Elliott got into a ‘very good level’, says Derani

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Derani stated, “Chase has been fantastic from the beginning, such a down-to-earth guy for what he achieved in his career and has been so open-minded coming here trying to learn from us who knows the car really well.

“He got into a very good level considering his very first time in the car, and it’s just a pleasure to have a champ here, a current champ of NASCAR, which is a great achievement. Hopefully, we can continue to grow this very nice relationship that started this week into a race-winning opportunity next week.”

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Earlier this week, Elliott‘s team saw Nasr and Derani take up qualifying session duties in the 100-minute showdown. Although Elliott did not drive in that segment, he has learned quite a few things from some experienced professionals.

Elliott will eye his first Rolex 24 title ahead of NASCAR title defense

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Nasr said, “Chase is a skilled listener, and it’s a pleasure to have him on board. He’s an easy guy to work with, and I think he never jumped in a car that opened his eyes and it showed how quick those DPis are, and he said he had a lot of fun.

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More than anything, the Hendrick Motorsports No.9’s efforts would immensely help him understand a few racing techniques. After all, a successful Cup Series title defense will certainly see him put down a statement of intent.

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Hence, a Rolex 24 victory on his very first attempt would indeed be something special for him. Although he will compete against several talented drivers, he would certainly not feel out of place in the premier event.

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Written by:

Bhargav Gopal

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Hailing from Bengaluru, Bhargav is an F1 and NASCAR author for EssentiallySports. He is a huge fan of Max Verstappen and Red Bull Racing. Bhargav also has an MBA in Sports Management from the Symbiosis School of Sports Sciences, Pune.
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