Looking to secure second place in the NASCAR Cup Series regular season table at Daytona on Saturday, after recently losing the title to William Byron at Richmond Raceway, Chase Elliott is hyped for the beginning of the 10-race Playoff schedule.

The 2020 champion, who wrecked out of the Cook Out 400 courtesy of Kyle Busch, is already locked into the Playoffs, thanks to his sole win of the season so far at the Quaker State 400 in Atlanta. Now with just the Coke Zero Sugar 400 remaining until the First Round commences at Darlington Raceway, 29-year-old Elliott says the final 10 races of the season are the epitome of what NASCAR can be.

Ahead of Daytona, Hendrick Motorsports’ Elliott appeared on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, explaining how while it’s always easy to get excited about a new season, “It’s easy to get into that lull and part of the season becomes stale,” adding, that it’s not a case of him “not trying or not that you’re not putting in the effort or not that you don’t enjoy going, but it’s just, it’s got a different vibe to it.”

“And for me, those last 10 are, they feel like the sport should feel to me,” Elliott said. “Like I get that…this is what sports and the fall and the Playoffs should feel like. And it just makes it really easy to get up and get excited and get fired up and do your homework and everything else, just because you know what’s on the line, something’s on the line every week, and you’re getting down to it. 

“It’s either go big and make it happen or don’t. And it’s totally in your hands, whether or not that happens. And I love that.

“So that’s why I love the last 10, just because I think it brings a level of excitement that we all need and that I think is healthy to have. And when we have that type of intensity and something’s laid on the line every weekend, I think it’s just a better environment to watch and be a part of, and all of the above.”

The First Round slate bodes relatively well for Elliott, as he continues to chase his second career Cup title, with The Cook Out Southern 500 kicking off proceedings at a track where he has finished in the top five on four occasions since 2015 – although a win at Darlington continues to elude him. 

This will be followed by a trip to World Wide Technology Raceway for the Enjoy Illinois 300, where Elliott has yet to crack the top 10, before the series makes its way to Bristol Motor Speedway for the Bass Pro Shops Night Race. Elliott has managed five top-five finishes at the iconic short track, finishing second in two of the last three night races in Tennessee.

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But before Elliott can embark on his Playoff push, he first has to make it through Daytona, another track that has seen him finish runner-up twice in his career to date.

Most recently, he crossed the line in 15th at the season-opening Daytona 500, watching on as regular-season champion Byron took the checkered flag.