“I don’t have to question their dedication”: Chase Elliott delivers crystal clear message about his NASCAR fanbase

Chase Elliott delivered a crystal clear message about his fanbase's dedication. The Hendrick Motorsports driver earned his seventh consecutive NASCAR Most Popular Driver Award, earlier in November and he expressed gratitude to his fanbase at the time.

The 2020 Cup Series champion is the son of 1988 Cup Series champion Bill Elliott. The Georgian followed his father's footsteps, marking his rookie NASCAR Xfinity season in 2014. Elliott's racing pedigree became evident when he clinched his maiden NASCAR title, thus becoming the first rookie to win a national series championship.

Chase Elliott's Hall of Famer father ran in the Cup Series for over 37 years, amassing 44 victories, 320 top-10s, and 55 poles. With that, Bill became an admired driver among NASCAR followers, which surged his popularity in the community. Thus, he was voted NASCAR's Most Popular Driver 16 times, consecutively from 1991 to 2000.

Since Dale Jr.'s retirement, Chase Elliott has bagged seven successive Most Popular Driver Awards. This wouldn't have been possible without his self-made and inherited fans' support, and the HMS driver aptly expressed the same through his crystal clear "dedication" message.

“I’m never surprised by their dedication or support. You know, that’s something I have witnessed firsthand from my dad’s career and now witnessed it for a number of years in my own. So no, I don’t have [to] question their dedication," Elliott said via Sportsnaut.

Dale Earnhardt Sr. earned the honors in 2001 as a tribute to his tragic demise at the Daytona 500. Bill Elliott re-emerged at the top in 2002 but Dale Jr. took over in 2003, atop until 2017.

Chase Elliott reflects on his family's legacy after earning the Most Popular Driver honors

For the majority of his NASCAR career, Chase Elliott's father donned the #9 on his high-octane rides. In 1976, Bill debuted in the #9 for his father George Elliott's team -Elliott Racing. Though he switched to several teams, he kept his number at Melling Racing, where he won his NASCAR title, and at Evernham Motorsports.

Even though Elliott piloted his father's #9 in his Xfinity Series campaign, he switched to Jeff Gordon's #24 for his rookie and sophomore Cup Series seasons at Hendrick Motorsports. But in 2018, Elliott re-took his family's traditional #9 and has been racing with it ever since.

That being said, Elliott expressed his feelings about carrying forward his family's legacy after earning the award.

"This award has always, in my eyes, a reflection and extension of my family’s place in the sport and I recognize my spot in line and recognize what they’ve done. The reason that it’s special is because of the fans and how supportive they have been to my entire family, myself included, our team, over the years. I’m grateful for that. I don’t take it lightly, ever," Elliott said via National Motor Sports Association official release.

Chase Elliott and his father Bill have collectively claimed 23 NASCAR Most Popular Driver Awards.