DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- A longstanding tradition in NASCAR featured the Cup Series champion visiting the White House as part of their postseason victory tour. This has not been the case in several seasons, but Chase Elliott would like to see it return.
After all, COVID-19 kept him from making the trip to the White House after winning the title in 2020.
"Hate that I missed out on that honor," Elliott said about the canceled trip. "Certainly understand the circumstances and the reasoning behind it. It just means we need to go and win another (championship) to get another chance."
Joey Logano was the last Cup champion to visit the White House. He did so in early 2019 after winning his first title the previous season. He followed in the footsteps of such drivers as Jimmie Johnson, Martin Truex Jr., Kyle Busch, Brad Keselowski, and Tony Stewart.
Interestingly enough, Elliott has visited the White House as part of an official NASCAR trip. He just wasn't the championship-winning driver shaking hands with the president.
Instead, it was his father, Bill Elliott, who joined several competitors for a meeting with then-President George W. Bush in 2003.
"Dad got to go, and I was just a kid, but I went," Elliott said. "And I still have some photos of being there in the White House and being in the Oval Office and all that stuff.
"I mean, golly, I was probably in the second or third grade and just to have that experience was incredible. I don't remember it, but to have those pictures to look back on is really cool."
Photo credit: Getty Images
NASCAR has enjoyed many ties to the President of the United States over the decades. The White House visits are only some examples. Multiple presidents have attended Daytona International Speedway races and served as the grand marshal.
The ties go deeper, according to Elliott. He has heard stories over the years of a special tradition made just for the winner of the Daytona 500, the biggest race on the Cup Series schedule.
"The sitting president used to call the winner," Elliott said. "I don't know if y'all remember that or not, but there was some stories of that happening.
"I've never won, so I don't know if that still happens or not, but I just think that just kind of goes to show you it's a big deal, right? I don't care who the president was. At that point, that's just a cool thing."
Elliott certainly hopes the tradition of the congratulatory phone call has continued, but he can't say for sure. At this point, he just wants to find out either way by winning Sunday's crown jewel race in what will be his 10th attempt.
Elliott will have the opportunity on Feb. 16 at 1:30 p.m. ET (Fox) as he climbs into the No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet to start the Great American Race.
If he can win the Daytona 500 and check off this goal, he will be one step closer to a second Cup Series championship and, potentially, a trip to the White House.