Listen in as Chase Elliott accepts his sixth straight Most Popular Driver Award at the 2023 NASCAR Awards banquet in Nashville.
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00:00 And this next honor, the National Motorsports Press Association Most Popular Driver Award
00:05 is for those fans that Ken talked about.
00:08 Once again, the fans rallied behind the driver from Dawsonville, Georgia to give him the
00:12 award for the sixth consecutive season.
00:15 Ladies and gentlemen, the 2023 NMPA Most Popular Driver presented by Hooters goes to Chase
00:21 Elliott.
00:22 Congratulations, we're all stunned by the way that you won it for the sixth consecutive
00:35 year.
00:36 Obviously a little off-season shoulder surgery.
00:38 You weren't supposed to be here tonight.
00:40 How's the shoulder healing up?
00:41 Yeah, it's been actually pretty good last couple weeks.
00:44 So it's unfortunately with the way our schedule is, it's kind of the only time we have to
00:48 do it.
00:49 But yeah, just we've had a lot of great support over the last few weeks to make it happen.
00:54 So we should be on schedule for next year.
00:56 Sixth consecutive year for you.
00:58 So dad has 16.
00:59 Do you have 11 more of these in you to pass your dad for 17 Most Popular Driver Awards?
01:06 I don't know.
01:07 That's a lot.
01:09 That's a lot for sure.
01:10 But just really this award has always, in my eyes, been a reflection and an extension
01:17 of my family's place in the sport.
01:19 And I recognize my spot in line and recognize what they've done.
01:25 And the reason that it's special is because of the fans and how supportive they have been
01:30 to my entire family and myself included and our team over the years.
01:34 So grateful for that.
01:35 I don't take it lightly ever.
01:37 I know you said you weren't stunned, but I still take it very seriously and grateful for
01:41 what they do for us.
01:42 They've been phenomenal.
01:44 So appreciate that.
01:45 And I want to say, I don't know where Ryan is.
01:47 Should be up front.
01:48 There he is.
01:49 I just want to say a quick congratulations to him.
01:54 Just so happy for you and be able to get the job done.
01:57 It was cool to watch and enjoyed sharing a rookie year together and both have championships
02:01 at this point.
02:02 It's pretty neat.
02:03 So proud of you all and looking forward to racing with you next year.
02:07 Let's talk real quick about your race team.
02:09 2023, such a strange year for the 9 team.
02:11 The injury, everything that kind of came along with that chase.
02:14 Have you ever looked forward to a reset more than this offseason to propel you into 2024?
02:20 Yeah, last year was rough on, you know, in a lot of ways, but that's that's life.
02:25 You know, you learn to continue to grow and reinvent yourself in new ways.
02:31 And, you know, as I continue down this journey, you start to experience things that you never
02:36 experienced before.
02:37 And this year was one of them for me.
02:39 So I look at next year as an opportunity to grow and be a better driver, be a better person
02:45 and and come out hopefully strong.
02:47 You know, when we get to Daytona and start our season.
02:49 So I'm looking forward to the opportunity and excited to get started.
02:52 But yeah, this last year was was one I'd like to forget for sure in a lot of ways.
02:57 But again, that's life and you're going to have that.
02:59 So always looking forward to the next opportunity and fortunate that I have another one.