NASCAR honors Chase Elliott with Comeback Driver of the Year recognition after being denied by..

Heading into the final stretch of the regular season, NASCAR recognized Chase Elliott as the Comeback Driver of the Year. After a tumultuous campaign last season, Elliott has returned to top form this year and is in contention for the regular season title.
The NASCAR Cup Series Most Popular Driver, Elliott, missed seven races last year due to an injury and a suspension. His return was less than stellar, as he failed to secure a spot in the playoffs for the first time in his Cup career. The 28-year-old also ended the season winless, a stark contrast to his previous dominance.Elliott and the #9 Hendrick Motorsports team made a strong comeback in 2024, snapping the 42-race winless streak with a victory at Texas Motor Speedway. Elliott has also showcased remarkable consistency this season, with an impressive average finish of 10.5 after 22 races.
Recognizing the 2020 Cup champion’s return to form, NASCAR.com staff voted Chase Elliott as the Comeback Driver of the Year in their midseason review.

Moreover, Elliott’s consistency has put him in contention for the regular-season title. He has the best average finish so far this season. His teammate Kyle Larson, who has won four races this season, trails him in this metric, as does William Byron, who has three wins.Larson was voted Driver of the Year, while Hendrick Motorsports was recognized as Team of the Year, courtesy of their nine wins in the first 22 races. All four HMS drivers have visited victory lane this season and are locked in for the playoffs.
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With four races remaining before the playoffs, the fight for the regular-season title is heating up. Larson leads the standings, holding a 10-point advantage over his teammate Elliott. Tyler Reddick follows closely behind, trailing the leader by 15 points.
Exploring the nominees for Comeback Driver alongside Chase Elliott
Hendrick Motorsports driver Alex Bowman and Stewart-Haas Racing driver Noah Gragson were also nominated for the Comeback Driver award, but Chase Elliott ultimately won the honor.
Similar to Elliott’s 2023 campaign, Bowman had also underperformed and was sidelined for a few weeks after sustaining a back injury. Although he started the 2023 season on a strong note, the injury derailed his campaign. Like Elliott, Bowman failed to qualify for the playoffs and went winless.The #48 Chevy driver silenced his critics with a victory in the second edition of the Chicago Street Race, ending his winless streak and securing his playoff berth. He was subsequently named the Most Pleasant Surprise by NASCAR.com.
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Noah Gragson was another driver who had endured a tumultuous 2023 campaign, scarred by a mid-season suspension from Legacy Motor Club for liking an offensive post. He was later picked up by Stewart-Haas Racing as a replacement for Aric Almirola.Gragson has made the most of his opportunity, securing a seat at Front Row Motorsports for 2025 and beyond. Impressed by his performances, NASCAR.com named him the best silly season pick of 2023.
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