CONCORD, NORTH CAROLINA - MAY 28: Chase Elliott, driver of the #9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet, waits in the garage area during practice for the NASCAR Cup Series Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 28, 2021 in Concord, North Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Chase Elliott. (Jared C. Tilton/Getty Photo)

Chase Elliott To Take On Nitro Rallycross

STARKE, Fla. — Chase Elliott will race in the Nitro Rallycross finale Dec. 4-5 at The Florida Int’l Rally & Motorsports Park.

Elliott is confirmed to drive the ZipRecruiter-sponsored #GoNitro car in Nitro RX’s Supercar class. With his addition to the Florida driver lineup, Elliott’s beverage partner, A SHOC Energy, is also sponsoring his Nitro Rallycross debut in the final round.

Elliott is the latest NASCAR star to tackle Nitro RX’s challenging courses, following Kyle Busch’s strong performance at Nitro RX’s Phoenix stop earlier this month. 

“I’m really looking forward to racing in Nitro RX at the season finale in Florida,” Elliott said. “I enjoy the challenge of trying out other forms of racing and have recently taken up dirt racing, so getting in a rallycross car is really appealing. Nitro RX is thrilling to watch and from what Travis Pastrana and some of the other drivers have told me, it is just as thrilling to be behind the wheel. I can’t wait.”

Pastrana is thrilled to have Elliott competing.

“It’s absolutely awesome for our sport to see NASCAR Cup champions like Chase Elliott and Kyle Busch compete in Nitro Rallycross,” he said. “Kyle had so much fun and a very impressive fourth place finish at Nitro Rallycross in Phoenix. Chase is bar none one of the greatest driving talents in motorsports and having an elite driver of his caliber opens Nitro RX to a new audience. Chase joining us for the Florida finale is a great way to close out the 2021 series.”

While Elliott has a full trophy case from numerous series across the racing world, including the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series championship, Nitro RX will be new territory. 

Nitro RX’s turbocharged 600 hp vehicles are different beasts than the NASCAR Cup Series vehicles Elliott usually pilots. Nitro RX Supercars are also all-wheel drive and accelerate faster off the starting line than an F1 car, hitting 60 mph in just 1.9 seconds at 1.5 G. 

Pastrana is the series point leader.

“The track is being built right now so Chase will have as much time on it as anyone coming into this race,” Pastrana said. “And with so much tarmac in Florida I wouldn’t be surprised to see Chase end up on the podium, but I would be very impressed. I look forward to seeing how his skills transfer over to all-wheel drive Supercars and can’t wait to go door to door with one of the youngest NASCAR Cup champions of all time.”