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Riding shotgun with NASCAR'S Chase Elliott

NASCAR's Chase Elliott talks with 11Alive's Jennifer Leslie about Atlanta traffic, his early days in racing and managing his nerves on the track. He'll compete in the Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Sunday, Feb. 25.
NASCAR's Chase Elliott took 11Alive's Jennifer Leslie in a spin around Atlanta Motor Speedway in a pace car ahead of the Folds of Honor Quik Trip 500 on February 25.

NASCAR's Chase Elliott has to slow down big time when he finds himself stuck in Atlanta traffic.

"Atlanta traffic is tough," Chase told 11Alive's Jennifer Leslie. "I try not to drive into Atlanta."

Born and raised north of Atlanta in Dawsonville, Chase was made to race.

"I've been around it for a day or two. I started when I was about to turn 8, so 7," he explained.

He learned from the best with dad Bill Elliott earning a place in NASCAR's Hall of Fame.

But Chase found his own footing.

"Do you just love this?" Jennifer asked him.

"I do. I do," he said.

Chase Elliott, driver of the #9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet, is introduced prior to the start of the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series 60th Annual Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway. (Photo by Sarah Crabill/Getty Images)

Days before the start of the 2018 season, Chase took Jennifer for a spin around Atlanta Motor Speedway in a pace car.

"Oh, my gosh, we're so close to the wall," Jennifer said nervously.

"We're doing 100 right now," he told her.

"How do you not get nervous?" Jennifer asked.

"I don't know. We're so consumed with the competition side and trying to outrun somebody else that you're not so much thinking about what you're doing as you are thinking about how to beat the next guy," Chase explained.

He's hoping to beat them all at his home track when the Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 comes to Atlanta Motor Speedway on February 25.

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