Being the son of a racing superstar from a bygone era can be a daunting task, especially if you decide to follow in your father’s footsteps. While NASCAR has largely been defined by family legacy, few families have played a role in defining the sport as it is seen today. Much like the Earnhardts, Bill and Chase Elliott happen to be one such family.
The Story of How Chase Elliott Finally Got His Hands on the No. 9
A Cup Series champion in 1988, Bill Elliott stands as one of NASCAR’s most prolific drivers of his era. Known for celebrating his wins like there was no tomorrow, Elliott senior handed down his race-winning knack to his son, Chase, who not only carries the family name with pride, but also does justice to the racing number primarily associated with the Elliott family.
While he may be the No. 9 driver on the grid now, it wasn’t always his assigned number, and a surprise entity in Dale Earnhardt Jr. helped the 29-year-old ultimately secure his most cherished car number.
Speaking to Bobby Bones on the “BobbyCast” podcast, Elliott revealed the intriguing story of how he got the No. 9 assigned to him at Hendrick Motorsports, with it originally being a part of Richard Petty Motorsports’ lineup.
With RPM walking away from NASCAR, the No. 9 was not being used by any driver in the Cup Series. At the time, HMS was undergoing a restructuring phase, and Jeff Gordon was about to vacate his No. 24 seat. In came Elliott, who took up the No. 24 car, but his heart was set on somehow securing the No. 9 car.
In 2018, there came a point when HMS was switching things up and Elliott was eyeing the No. 9 for himself. In came Earnhardt, who forced Elliott to go talk to Rick Hendrick about somehow getting the right to using the No. 9 for HMS.
“You need to speak up about this right now because you’re probably not gonna have another opportunity to do it,” Earnhardt told Elliott.
Petty was more than happy to let go of the no. since it wasn’t in use in the sport and he understood the value of Elliott family’s ties with it. A deal was then worked out between HMS and Petty Enterprises, with the No. 9 being Elliott’s ever since.
Why Was the No. 9 So Important to Elliott?
For the newer fans of the sport, going through so much trouble for a car no. might not make sense. But for those who have been following NASCAR for decades, the hardwork is a justified approach.
Back in the ’80s, Bill (Elliott) was the man to beat in NASCAR, as he was the ultimate depiction of true speed. In 1987, he recorded the fastest qualifying speed in NASCAR history as he clocked in 212.809 mph at Talladega, which is still the all-time record.
But more importantly, he did it all with the No. 9 printed on his car. 34 of his 44 career race wins came under with the No. 9 car including the 1988 Cup Series championship.
Between 1995 and 2000, he switched to No. 94 in honor of his nephew, Casey Elliott, who succumbed to cancer.
