"It's been there, I guess since we won" - Chase Elliott opens up on the whereabouts of his NASCAR Cup Series trophy

What happened to Chase Elliott’s championship trophy? Journalist Kelley Crandall asked the Dawsonville native the same question during a recent media availability. While drivers usually take their trophies home, some teams display them at their headquarters. However, Elliott’s trophy is somewhere else.

Elliott won his career’s first and only championship trophy in 2020, his fifth full season with Hendrick Motorsports. He also became the third-youngest driver to bag the honor. Elliott’s championship-winning season was marked by a career-high five wins, 15 top-5s, and 22 top-10s.

Speaking of where his trophy is at the moment, the Chevy star said (via Cup Scene YouTube channel):

“It’s currently at the Georgia Racing Hall of Fame. It’s been there, I guess since we won. I never went and got it so it’s sitting over there.” (14:50)

“As far as I know I hadn’t been in there in a little bit but I’m fairly certain somebody would (have) told me if it was gone. I should probably swing through and pick it up one day but I just hadn’t got around to do that yet,” Chase Elliott joked.

Currently vying for his second championship title, Elliott is the only playoff driver who does not have multiple wins this season. His sole win in 2024 came at Texas Motor Speedway in April, ending a 42-race winless drought. In all, the 28-year-old owns 19 wins at the Cup level.

As of today, Elliott sits 43 points behind the cutline. This leaves him in a must-win situation ahead of the upcoming Cup Series race at Martinsville Speedway.

Chase Elliott reveals mindset ahead of decisive Round-of-8 race

Chase Elliott wrapped up last week’s race at Homestead-Miami at P5, his second top-5 at the event in six years. The week before, Elliott ran well at Las Vegas too but got caught in a wreck with Tyler Reddick, Brad Keselowski, Austin Cindric, and reigning Cup Series champion Ryan Blaney, which saw him finish at P33.

“I’m excited for the weekend and just excited for where we’re at,” Elliott said (via NBC). “Las Vegas has been horrendous. I mean horrendous, horrendous. And so has Homestead, for really about two years plus, maybe three years on both of those places. So to go and to have the type of speed we’ve had the last couple of weeks, I think that’s great.”

Things could go differently at Martinsville, given that unlike Las Vegas and Homestead, it is a short track and the shortest on NASCAR’s current schedule. It’s also a racetrack where Elliott has won previously (2020).

“I haven’t even thought about Phoenix,” Chase Elliott added. “It’s just about getting the job done right now. I think as you go through those situations, I really believe and trust in our process. If we’re able to go and get the job done (Sunday), then you go and start your homework (Sunday) night.”

Elliott qualified second for Sunday’s race at the Virginian short track. Fans can watch the race on NBC from 2 PM ET onwards. MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio will provide live radio coverage of the 500-lap event.