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WATKINS GLEN, NY – AUGUST 05: Chase Elliott, driver of the #9 SunEnergy1 Chevrolet, celebrates in Victory Lane after winning during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series GoBowling at The Glen at Watkins Glen International in Watkins Glen, New York. (Photo by Sarah Crabill/Getty Images)
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WATKINS GLEN, NY – AUGUST 05: Chase Elliott, driver of the #9 SunEnergy1 Chevrolet, celebrates in Victory Lane after winning during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series GoBowling at The Glen at Watkins Glen International in Watkins Glen, New York. (Photo by Sarah Crabill/Getty Images)
After scoring 9 wins in the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series season, many fans are wondering whether Kevin Harvick can go one further and win 10 in 2021.
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While Harvick can certainly bag the stunning feat, another driver who has the best chance to beat Harvick to the record is none other than Chase Elliott.
The reigning NASCAR Cup champion must be in the most confident phase of his career, mentally, after winning the title recently. Moreover, he continued to ring in the laps, participating in various other racing events during the off-season.
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AVONDALE, ARIZONA – NOVEMBER 08: Chase Elliott, driver of the #9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet, and his crew chief Alan Gustafson pose for a photo after winning the NASCAR Cup Series Season Finale 500 and the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series Championship at Phoenix Raceway in Avondale, Arizona. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
Now, as he enters the new season, the 2021 Cup Series schedule would certainly motivate Elliott further to continue the winning run.
It is no secret that the presence of 7 road course races on the 2021 calendar means Elliott is already expected to win more than the 5 races he won in 2020.
He is on a 4-race winning streak on road courses and just looks a class apart from the other drivers on those tracks.
Why Chase Elliott is a favorite to dominate in the 2021 season
Additionally, there are as many as 6 short-track races on the 2021 calendar as well. The 25-year-old has only 1 win in 31 starts on short-tracks. However, his performances last year on those tracks show that Elliott has found a way to be one of the favorites in such races.
That one win came in the final playoff race at Martinsville, one of Elliott’s most impressive wins, which booked his place in the championship race at Phoenix.
He was also the only driver to record Top-10 finishes in the last 4 short-track races last season, having an average finish of 4.5.
Memorable Moments of the 2020 NASCAR Season.
No. 4: Chase Elliott caps 2020 with back-to-back wins at Martinsville and Phoenix to capture the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series title, becoming the first Most Popular Driver to win the championship since his father, Bill, did it in 1988. pic.twitter.com/So6pzcMzJ0
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) December 18, 2020
He also won the All-Star race at Bristol Motor Speedway in 2020. This year, the Cup Series has 2 races each at Martinsville, Bristol, and Richmond, although one of those is a dirt race at Bristol. The Hendrick Motorsports no. 9 also has 3 Top-5 finishes in his last 5 races at Richmond Raceway.
Will Elliott become the 1st driver since Johnson to achieve the feat?
With 7 races on road courses and 6 on short-tracks, that makes it 13 races where many drivers will certainly fear Elliott. He has also shown that he is no pushover on all other track types as well, despite road courses and short-tracks being his strengths.
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LOUDON, NEW HAMPSHIRE – AUGUST 02: Chase Elliott, driver of the #9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet, exits his car after the NASCAR Cup Series Foxwoods Resort Casino 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon, New Hampshire. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
Given these factors and his abilities as a NASCAR driver culminating in a maiden championship in 2020, Elliott has a solid chance to become the first driver since former teammate Jimmie Johnson in 2007 to win 10 races in a single season.
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