Dan Elliott, uncle to NASCAR driver Chase Elliott, recently shared his pick for the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series playoff champion, surprising many by choosing William Byron over his nephew. This announcement came ahead of the playoffs set to begin at Darlington on August 31, as fans and analysts weigh contenders for the Chase Elliott 2025 NASCAR title.
Chase Elliott, 29, who drives the #9 Chevrolet ZL1 for Hendrick Motorsports, is a prominent figure in NASCAR, hailing from the storied Elliott racing family. Despite his family connection and strong season performance, Dan Elliott expressed greater confidence in Chase’s teammate, William Byron, to win the championship.
On the Five to Go podcast with David Kupka, Dan Elliott explained his choice:
“If I were picking somebody consistently more so, I probably still got to go with Byron…That’s not my favourite drivers. That’s just who I see based on what I’ve seen during the course of the year.” —Dan Elliott, NASCAR family member and uncle of Chase Elliott
This endorsement of Byron comes as Chase Elliott holds a respectable 7th place in the drivers’ championship standings with 2,013 points. Throughout the 2025 season, Elliott has shown consistent skill by avoiding crashes and securing several top finishes. His season record includes one win, thirteen top-ten finishes, and seven top-fives, suggesting steady competitiveness.
Chase Elliott‘s Breakthrough Victory at EchoPark Speedway
This year, Chase Elliott ended a long winless drought by capturing a dramatic victory at EchoPark Speedway in Atlanta. The race was marked by intense competition, featuring 46 lead changes among 13 drivers and numerous crashes. Elliott’s ability to maintain composure during the chaos allowed him to lead 41 laps and clinch the win with a last-lap pass on Brad Keselowski.
His win represented not only a personal breakthrough but also a continuation of the Elliott family legacy at the Atlanta track, where his father, Bill Elliott, has five wins. This marked Chase’s second victory at EchoPark Speedway, reinforcing his standing as a capable competitor on home turf.
Reflecting on the race during an interview on SIRIUSXM NASCAR Radio, Elliott described the final laps:
“Yeah, it was wild. You know, got just a couple really good situations off of four and had a really big shove there and into one. I think I got two for one there with a couple to go that got me by, I forget who, and then the 45 and that got me to third. And I’m not exactly sure what happened, but somehow or another, Alex got to third or got me to second, I’m sorry. And I couldn’t really tell how that happened. And when I saw him in my mirror, I thought, well, you know, that’s better than somebody else.” —Chase Elliott, NASCAR driver
Outlook for the Upcoming NASCAR Playoffs
As the 2025 NASCAR season progresses toward the playoffs, Elliott’s strong performances are positioning him as a serious contender. The playoffs will begin at Darlington Raceway, a historic speedway known for challenging drivers and narrowing the field for the championship. While family opinions may lean toward William Byron according to Dan Elliott, Chase’s consistency and experience keep him firmly in the discussion for the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series title.
The next few races will be critical for Elliott to build momentum and capitalize on his steady form. With his roots deeply embedded in NASCAR’s elite tradition and a recent high-profile victory under his belt, Chase Elliott aims to transform his solid season into a championship–winning run.
