“I’m a sucker for Mexican food” - When Chase Elliott shared a sneak peak into his "bad" diet

Maintaining a strict diet is an important requisite for NASCAR drivers. NASCAR champion Chase Elliott once delved deep into the details of his day-to-day diet as a professional driver at the highest level.

While former NASCAR Cup Series champion Elliott has made it to the top of stock car racing, the road to it wasn't easy. The 29-year-old put in rigorous hard work and discipline to keep himself consistently in a good shape.

In an interview at the very onset of his Cup Series career in 2018, Elliott spoke about his rigorous workout and diet regime that he had to practice to maintain the required level of fitness. However, he also said he took a day or two off from his strict diet. The Georgia native said (via GQ),

"I’m not going to act like I’m some health freak and do everything perfectly, because I certainly don’t. I certainly love going and eating bad every now and again, just like everyone else, because you have to live a little. You just try and balance it out."

Chase Elliott was then asked about "eating bad." He said,

"I’m a sucker for Mexican food. With the entrées, you can actually eat pretty well if you get fajitas and skip the quesadillas and the tortillas. But the chips and dips are what get me. I always tell myself, 'This is the last chip.' It never is."

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Chase Elliott on racing drivers' workout regime

Elliott also opened up about the unique fitness demands of being a NASCAR driver. Contrary to traditional gym routines focused on maximum strength, his regimen prioritizes endurance. He explained:

"It’s not about benching or squatting the most, so if you lift, it’s about endurance—a low-weight, high-rep regimen."

Upper body strength is especially crucial, as drivers rely heavily on their shoulders and neck muscles during races. Elliott described the distinct physical strain of racing:

"There are certain muscles that we use that you just don’t use if you’re doing anything else. When I was younger and just starting to race, I had never worked these groups of muscles before. If you take a few weeks off and then run a race, you’ll be sore."

Chase Elliott’s commitment to his fitness and diet has paid off in spades. Following his first year in the Cup series, he went on to win the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series Championship. In 2022, he secured the regular season championship. Furthermore, the HMS driver has a running streak as NASCAR’s Most Popular Driver, claiming the honor seven consecutive times since 2018.