“Boy’s a winner!”
That’s how Ryan Blaney, close friend of Chase Elliott, introduced the newest NASCAR Cup winner late Sunday night to a boisterous crowd at Elliott field in Dawsonville, Georgia.
The crowd cheered as Elliott, fresh off winning Sunday afternoon’s race at Watkins Glen International, stepped out of his plane and into the spotlight.
Elliott won Sunday’s race after leading the final 34 laps and holding off defending champion Martin Truex Jr. until Truex ran out of gas on the last lap. The win came in Elliott’s 99th career start.
“I don’t think I know this many people,” Elliott told Fox 5 in Atlanta. “Great night. I just appreciate everybody’s support, through the good times and the bad. I’ve come home pretty disappointed over the past couple of years. Great to come home tonight and finally have one to enjoy. Your first one’s something you don’t forget.”
Not long after Elliott took the checkered flag, the legendary siren was set off at the Dawsonville Pool Hall.
A couple hundred people out at Elliott Field in Dawsonville, waiting on @chaseelliott to make his return after his first Cup Series win! @NASCARONFOX pic.twitter.com/JkoRXOm9Jv
— Justin Felder (@Justin_FOX5) August 6, 2018
Wow. Really cool welcome home last night. Thanks to all the people around Dawsonville that came out. Had a lot of my closest supporters out there. Can’t thank you guys enough 👊🏼 pic.twitter.com/5dHuF2LdJf
— Chase Elliott (@chaseelliott) August 6, 2018
Was pretty cool to present Chase to pretty much the whole town of Dahlonega last night. Good times. Congrats bud! Happy for ya. https://t.co/yYMCVePKk8
— Ryan Blaney (@Blaney) August 6, 2018
.@chaseelliott is back! pic.twitter.com/Bg0kRhwkko
— Justin Felder (@Justin_FOX5) August 6, 2018
.@chaseelliott on the massive welcome after his win: "I don't think I know this many people! I've come home pretty disappointed over the past couple years. Great to come home tonight and have one to enjoy." @NASCARONFOX @TeamHendrick pic.twitter.com/QbkN16H7d4
— Justin Felder (@Justin_FOX5) August 6, 2018
Now this is 😎! Don’t know that anyone has ever arrived home after their first win with this type of reception. Congrats again @chaseelliott! https://t.co/VMY5AUOv6K
— Jeff Gordon (@JeffGordonWeb) August 6, 2018
What an incredible time I’ll never forget, thanks to those who got me here... wouldn’t happen without you. And thank you for all the calls/texts my friends, promise I’ll get back to y’all!
— Chase Elliott (@chaseelliott) August 6, 2018