Are you ready for this? Jean Merriman a one hand effect. Boom boom boom, out go the light. This is Lights Out with Sean Merriman. What's up, guys, We're back again on the Lights Out podcast with me Shawn Merriman. Uh today, Man, this is awesome because this this guy is steaming hot right now, fresh off of two thousand twenty NASCAR Cup Series Chase Elliott. Um, you know, I just remember, and as you guys know, I've been around NASCAR since two
thousand and eight, but I also remember in its earlier years. Um, you can see the potential and you can hear the talks, but there was a lot of up and downs. Obviously, his dad is an absolute legend with big fan of him growing up. But we get into it today. Man, we talked about a lot, um, you know, not just his dad, but also the real MVP his mom and support that she's given him and being able to have both his parents there there with him when when he
when he won. I thought that was pretty cool. Um. Also we get into the inspection failure and some of the things that we're going through his head. Then, Um, what tracks you know he's gonna tell us what tracks he's always had a problem with or uh, you know, just his nemesis. You know, I bring up the fact that I never beat Tom Brady while I was a Charger and still to this day that that gets under my skin. So what track does uh get under Chase
elliot skin the most? So we get into it, man, and I appreciate his time because, like I said, he is super busy right now and and on fire, and big congratulations to him. Chase Elliott, Yo, what's up my man? I'm good? How you doing great? You know it has to it has to be like a whirlwind, right, Uh, everything has been happening lately, and I guess you know
one thing. One one of the things I get I kind of regret early on in my career when I was having a lot of accolades and success, Like everything gets thrown at you, right, everybody want to talk to you, got these interviews, your pr setting you up, these signings. You gotta basically be everywhere, and you don't take time to sink in has everything sunk in yet that that this what's been happening? Would you win it? Um a
little bit? I guess here and there, I've been been very busy, I'll be honest, since you know Sunday night, so um, I haven't had a ton of that, you know, just time of doing nothing um yet, but certainly have been enjoying everything that has come along with uh, with the championship and and all the experiences I mean, stuff like this included. I mean, you know, I don't typically like doing media, um, but you know, this is one of those things where it's like, yeah, man, like let's
do it, you know, talk about it, enjoy it. Probably the only time I'm ever that optimistic and excited about it. So I've really been on and just enjoying all the aspects which which part of you hate the most? Like like, I don't get me wrong, if you love showing up to certain things and the opportunities, right because this you winning opens up even more doors than you already had, right, I mean people want to talk to you. You've got
all these people just throwing these things at you. Well, to you, what's the what's the part about you hate the most? Is it? Yeah? What is it? Man? I don't know. There's honestly, not much I've I've hated about this, this uh situation, you know, to just being Frank, there's
really really hasn't been. It's been you know, nothing, just a lot of a lot of support, a lot of love and um, you know a lot of a lot of great people you know reaching out and showing you know, and expressing their congratulations, which is really cool and um yeah, I've never never gone through this really to this level. So it's been been a fun experience and something new
in a lot of ways, you know. Speaking of those great people, Well, one of my longtime friends, Jimmy Johnson, when when you want man to see that him you know, coming over and congratulating into support and you're one of the things that you know, outside of Jimmy being us San Diego God, you know I played for the Charges. Uh, just him being like an all around great dude. Man. When I've seen that, I was like, man, that is super cool because it's it's it's really rare to see
something like that. Man. He he's such a good dude to men, as you know, if you've known him for that long. I mean just I mean his on track stuff is amazing, right, it kind of speaks for itself. But you know, he's said such a good example outside the car with how he handles everything. I feel like it's just with the absolute pymicle of class and integrity and the way he is with his family and and
and everything too is just the ultimate example. I mean, I'm not sure there's a a better champion um than than him. So very cool. Have have you taken anything um you know from his career and what he's done and applied it at all? Because I know for me early on coming in being a rookie, you got some of the vets people have been around and want to help you and will take good time and shout down and coach you and and and spend the extra time
that they don't have to. But then you have some of them like, yeah, this kid could be taking my my my place, right, he could be be next to me. I mean, is it's some of the things you've taken from Jimmy. You've got a chance to talk to him about over your over your career. Yeah, you know, well I think a lot of a lot of things. And the cool thing about that is he's been he's been a supporter for a long time and I kind of
grew up in it. Obviously my dad raced and so I didn't have a chance to meet Jimmy at a young age, and he has been nothing but supportive for for many years prior to the NASCAR thing and even some of the steps along the way, he would send me a message and uh, you know, show his support, which is really cool I made for a young kid, I mean, coming along and have a guy like that reach out to you, um on something that in the grand scheme of things might not be a big deal,
but to me it was. And he knew kind of how that feeling was as you're coming along. So, you know, just a great guy. I've been unfortunate to have his support for a long time. So so to answer your question, I think there's a lot of things that you can take from him, but the example he sets is above everything else. You on one thing you brought up your dad Man, which I was a huge fan of. Man.
I used to love your dad, you know, just when early on when I started to watch an ASCAR from Maryland and watching the d C area, so a lot of tracks, I think the closest track was out there was was dover right, uh the Marster miuth Um. So that was like the closest track that I was able to get to that was close to home, but your dad was the man. But the real m v P is your mom, and people don't I don't know if
people know about that. I've been around the tracks a lot, man, but your mom has just been a crazy amount to give. Crazy your support me, your supports is the full while man, just talk about that a little bit because every we all, we all know the accolades which your dad has accomplished, but man, your mom is is the best. Yeah, she she's been great. And I think you bring up a good point because you know, of the years, it's it's obviously all about dad when they talk about you know,
somebody talks about your parents. So yeah, I mean she she's poured as much into it um as anybody. And she's been there, you know, all along the way, obviously been a been a supporter. I mean, she's mom, but uh, she absolutely has worked hard and you know, I think she needs to desert enjoy this as as much as anybody,
for sure. So I'm glad she was there Sunday. And and you know, it's one thing to experience a moment like that on your own, but to be lucky enough to have your your mom and dad there with you isn't something everyone gets to experience, even it does win something like that, So uh really really enjoyed that and glad they could see it and talking about your mom and dad. I remember, um, so I came and I got introduced to mask. I think my first race was
two thousand and eight. You were you were a lot younger. You're a lot younger than um. But I do remember this and when you will come it up and moving up in the ranks, and people obviously, you know, talk about your dad again. But you were, you know, coming up and you had it was some some rocky stuff early on, right, and there was a bunch of noise from the outside, and I just remember so many people
talking it's all outside noise. But to see you win, man is Being a former athlete myself, I was like, if they're a little like piece of you don't want to say, yeah, take that like it's you have do you yeah? Do you have any of that? And you I mean, I'm sure everybody has those moments that that drive you, that just piss you off. Right, I've certainly had those, um but I just feel like the best way to deal with that stuff is is, you know, to have success if you're fortunate enough to do it.
I mean that that's gonna make people that don't like you mad enough, so that that's the that's the best way to go about it. And it's just do your job and you know, trying to try to just eliminate those distractions altogether. And that's just one of those things. Is yes, as much as as much as might want to rub it in or whatever. Um, you know, it's just not productive a lot of times, but been a been a fun round for sure. Look, you're taking a
political way. I'm saying because I was, you know, I was around and I was hearing it that it has to feel good man. And and one thing that I for me personally and also being around um that I've always admired that I don't care how things got, you know, tough from you from the outside. And I think that to me when I was on the tracks, you always your hardest critic, right, I mean you was always hardest on yourself than anybody else possibly could be. What where
did you get that from? That's a good question, you know, I definitely feel, um, I don't know necessarily know where I got that from, but I just kind of way I feel about it is no matter what you're doing. I mean I feel like if you're driving race cars or if you're playing football or baseball, whatever, nobody knows. Really, no one gets the whole picture except you and and the amount of effort you put in. Whether you did something wrong maybe and didn't do it right, but nobody
else noticed. Um nobody knows those things but you. And there's you know that being said, there's not always going to be someone to tell you what was right or what was wrong because they might not know. Um So, I definitely think you have to hold yourself accountable, especially in in in racing. I think, uh, it's unique because there's no one sitting in the car with me, right, so like nobody knows whether or not I hit my corner perfect or if I you know, got as close
to something as I needed to or whatever. No nobody knows like from the outside looking in that those small details you can't see on TV. Um So, I think you have to hold yourself accountable or you're not gonna
You're not gonna improve in every area. What what was the hardest time, Like you know, because you had a long journey, do it amount just sitting back and get an opportunity to watch what was the hardest time when you felt like you was maybe starting to hit a wall and and and that hunt was a little bit tall than you know, do the scene before because everybody got their hiccups and you go through it or whatever. But what what point in time were you It wasn't
even the outside noise. I guess you personally started to feel like, man, this this is this is a lot tougher and it's gonna be a hard one to get through. Yeah, you know, that's a great question. I feel like we had had we had had some success in the late model short track world, like in I don't know, like the early like twelve like we were, you know, been fortunate to win some big races and at that time started to get involved in what was then the K and N Series and some arcer races UM and really
didn't run very good. Um had a lot of success, I feel like on the other side, UM at certain times, but kind of got over there and that was kind of my first step into anything NASCAR sanction and things certainly weren't weren't going very well. UM. So yeah, I think you know, that period of time was interesting because from my here we are in one car, having success and doing good things, and then stud into something else where I didn't really think was any more competitive than
what we had been racing. Wasn't running is good? And kind of like, why you know, I don't I don't understand. I'm not doing anything any different here than I was that I do over there simultaneously. So as time goes on, it's just, you know, timing of things is so important having good people around you. Uh, you know, sometimes you're gonna go through that stuff and and there's gonna be a missing piece or two that you might not ever understand.
But I was super fortunate, you know Mr Hendrick uh stuck with me through those years and said, hey, look this's tell my guy. And I mean he did has done everything he ever said he would and and that's pretty hard to come back speaking of getting through it. Um So I'm a person I've pushed cars. I was there doing the driver's meetings, I was there pushing that, pushing cars through an inspection. Right, So when I've seen what happened in your cay is doing with the inspection,
my heart kind of dropped. Man, What was what was that feeling? For you like what had happened. I was like, oh man, this is gonna be that's gonna be uphill battle. Yeah, you know, it's interesting because I mean everybody's pushing it right. I mean, especially when you come down the end of the year. I mean I think he is taking everything they can get out of their cars, um and then some and and certainly those guys that are racing for
a championship. So um, everybody's just pushed to the absolute edge. So you know, the I guess the first time they rolled through tech um there was a problem with a bunch of cars how the ducting was uh done in the nose. I guess they didn't like that, and then kind of went back through the second time and had to uh fix something on the left rear offenders. So you know it was kind of nitpicking, I guess at the end of the day. But they have a job to do, and you know, I appreciate them holding most
accountable and and um, you know, making it right. So I still felt like through all that, our our car balance was still more important than the starting position. And yeah, so who chose that? What? When you was like, who shows who chose right? If it's not to balance. Well, if it's a weighted issue, who who who makes a final call on Okay, which one are we gonna give up and move forward? Like? Is it? Is it? You? Yeah? Well it wasn't. It wasn't anything we had, you know,
it wasn't getting up anything. I just mean our preparation and our cadet got it. I guess, um is more important than a starting position. So you know, hey, we didn't do a good job getting through tech this morning, but I have confidence in the things that we decided throughout the week and how we wanted to set up our car, and if we got those things right, I think three and twelve laps is plenty enough time to get to wherever you belong, you know, right, that just
shouldn't be. Um. I didn't feel like that was an excuse if things didn't go our way. So um, you know, looking back, it obviously worked out. But you know that was because we had our car balanced well and it was in the ballpark and we could find tune once the race started and ended up being a being a
really nice thing. No, that was a that was a hell of a job man by the team to to come back because the first thing I was thinking about is he is he gonna be worried about to start, you know what, like what's gonna what's gonna happen for here? And I think that it was, um, maybe a forty second or forty third lap, I think he was gonna pass Joey, right, were almost that didn't have a cross your mind you might run them into the wall like at some point, well was you wasn't even just really
thinking about that? Yeah, I mean honestly, I was just really focused on trying to get to the front, you know.
And and you know it's certainly his been up and down with him, I guess throughout the year, but you know, regardless, at the time, I certainly understood it was you know, came down to one race and and you know we uh we raised hard, but I thought we raised fair and you know it, Uh, I'm glad it worked out like it did, for sure, But at the time, it was just about trying to find the front and figure out what we need to do to our car to
get a little better. At that particular moment of the race, we were good, Um, I didn't think we were great, And you know, it was it was still early and a lot of things can change, so we had to stay upon things after that too. Does any any track during a year, because everybody got the nemesis, right, I go back in like I'm an avid patriot, hated for life, right Tom Brady, Like I just couldn't beat him while
played for the Charge. I end up beating him one time when I went to the Buffalo Bills, but I never got a chance to beat him in my sick of my years with the Charges? What's that track? Man? And you can go back if you look at that, it's just bother the hell out of you at night when you sleep. Man, Is that is the one track you like? Damn? I just I can't. I can't figure it out. I can't get it. Yeah, I mean to me, Texas has become that for me. Yeah, Texas Motors Speeway.
I mean it was such an interesting thing too, because when we first started going to Texas, it was a different and layout and the track surface was old, and we actually had some really nice runs there. I mean, that was a one of my better tracks. I felt like it in my rookie year. And they came in and and the track was having some uh drainage issues and it just came time to pave it and it was just you know, asphalt gets wored out after a
while and it was time. Uh. And when they did it, they they kind of reconfigured one and two and and the took away some banking and did some different things. And man, it has just not set well with me since. Uh. But you know, this pass race there, I thought it was the best phone we've ever had. I thought we were improved and it was better. It wasn't good, but it was it was better. So so what's next? Man? Like, you know, you're just coming off of this, off of
the win. Um, the season has been great for you, But like, what's what's next as far as the momentum? Like what are you hoping to take from this season? And we talked about Texas when we talked about some of the other stuff, But what are you hoping to take from this season? You know, going into the next season that as momentum changes. Yeah, you know, I think that's a great question. And I'm I'm still kind of reflecting on this year. I haven't I haven't really looked
ahead yet. But you know, an important thing to me is is just being a consistent winner. And I think in our sport. Uh, there's a handful of guys that I feel like can win literally any given week, like any time. Uh, there's a handful of guys that I could be like, all right, well it's could It could be any of those guys today. UM, I want to
be that. And I feel like we uh have been right there at that and I thought we've we even achieved that to a degree at the end of the year, but still not to the degree that I want to be at. And um, I think that we can certainly get there and and be better yet and and hopefully lead to some more opportunities down the road. Hey, that's awesome, brother. You got anything else coming up? Any events, charity stuff
for you know? Yes, at some point, at some point, man, you gotta take it all in, Like you know, you're gonna have late night shows and zoom calls and and a bunch of pr probably signings and everything else to do. But man, I mean, what's you know, are you gonna take some time off? What are you playing soon? Yeah?
I actually hope to do some more racing through the winter. Um. As things changed throughout the year, just the landscape of the world I had been going on some trips around the world and traveling and seeing new places, and that's really what's your what's your favorite place so far? Man? That's really tough. Um. I've been to some cool places. Ireland was really neat. Um. Been to Costa Rica a
couple of times. Enjoy I love Costa Rica. Yeah, so I wanted to see some more places, but just with the landscape of everything, I just you know, traveling outside the States really isn't an option right now. So Michellexen, I'm gonna be home. Let's trying to do some some racing. Uh so working on some things. Haven't really finished it all up, but really hope to spend my winter and doing some racing and obviously enjoying all days with my family.
Oh that's awesome, brother, Hey, congratulations again. I appreciate it. I know how it is when you know everybody's pulling from you left and right and you've got no time to yourself. Man, So I really appreciate you coming on and good luck. Man. I'm sure I'll see you at the track when they allow us all to come back and things are fully normal. I'm like, I couldn't believe it's like my first year and probably a decade that I haven't gone to no tracks, So I can't wait
to get back out there. Man, I'll make sure I stopped buying say what's up? Yeah, I definitely did to get talking to you. I appreciate your time. Hey, you got a brother. Thank you. Thanks, thanks guys for tune it. And again to another episode on the Lights Out Podcast with me Shawn Merriman, And Uh, it was really cool
for for a Chase to jump on with. It's because, uh, you know, when things I told him, I said, when you just win something that you win the Accolades or you win something a championship like he just won, you're getting pulled left and right. Man. So for us to give for him to give us twenty five minutes of his day was super cool. And you know, to see what's gonna happen to me. He's twenty four years old. He was twenty four years old, so he has a a lot of time behind that wheel man and and
and so much momentum going into next year. So I'm really hoping the best for him. And uh, finally I'll get a chance to get to some tracks. This is the first year, uh, in the decade that I haven't been able to get out to a NASCAR track man, so to to see that, uh and being able to watching on TV and not being there really a gut punch. So anyway, thanks again guys for listening in to another
episode of the Lights Out podcast. Misan Raymond. Don't forget to rate us, UH review download us, Tell your friends and all your people to keep listening. We're gonna keep heating up. I appreciate it again. Thanks