The Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Midget Nationals, an annual tradition of Motorsports worlds colliding, has added a new name to its list of Golden Driller hopefuls. Today, NASCAR’s biggest star, most popular driver and the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series Champion Chase Elliott announced on his Twitter account that he will make his first venture to the dirt world and race in midget racing’s crown jewel in January.

I’m going to try my best to play in the dirt at the @cbnationals!! Should be fun... ? #di9 #ChiliBowl #Nationals pic.twitter.com/aGKsQIquNb

— Chase Elliott (@chaseelliott) November 25, 2020

With little to no dirt experience, Elliott will drive for Chase Briscoe, the winningest driver in the NASCAR Xfinity Series in 2020, and the newest addition to Tony Stewart’s Cup Series lineup at Stewart Haas Racing in 2021. 

This week Elliott went to Millbridge Speedway in Salisbury, NC, to turn some laps in Briscoe’s micro sprint, to get a feel of the way the dirt car reacts. Elliott is among many drivers from outside of the midget world who will make their way to Tulsa in January. In the past, we’ve seen NASCAR, NHRA, Indy Car and more motorsports professionals attempt to take home a Driller.

Watch The Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Midget Nationals on FloRacing January 11-16, 2021

Elliott won five races at NASCAR’s top level this season, his fifth coming in the championship race in Phoenix. It was Elliott's first cup title, and second NASCAR title, as he won an Xfinity Series Championship in 2014. He’s the son of Bill Elliott, NASCAR Hall of Famer and 1988 Cup Champ, who won 44 races in his premier series career.