Chase Elliott

Chase Elliott integrates his passion for flying with his racing career by using his aircraft to travel to most races, particularly in the Southeast from his home base in Georgia. He views flying as a “mental exercise” that helps keep his mind sharp, similar to the multi-tasking and strategic thinking required in racing. He emphasizes that flying “betters you mentally just to make you think about things a little differently, and keep up with the weather, know what the performance is when you go to take off somewhere when it’s hot and the altitude is high.” This intellectual stimulation serves as a valuable supplement to his education, as he did not attend college. Beyond the mental benefits, flying offers him a sense of “freedom,” “peace,” and an “escape” from the pressures of his high-profile racing career.

NASCAR drivers and teams frequently use private aircraft for travel to and from race weekends. Major teams like Hendrick Motorsports operate their own quasi-airlines, often utilizing aircraft such as the Embraer ERJ-145. Joe Gibbs Racing, another prominent team, uses the Bombardier CRJ-700. Smaller teams often contract with major operators like Victory Air and Champion Air, who also primarily use the Embraer ERJ-145. Individual drivers also own and pilot their own jets; for example, Chase Elliott has flown his Cessna Citation, and other drivers like Denny Hamlin, Brad Keselowski, and Martin Truex Jr. also own jets. Martin Truex Jr. has even established his own private jet charter business, MTJ Aviation, which operates Beechcraft 400XPs and provides transport services, including for organ transplant centers. Sponsors and team owners also frequently fly in their own private jets, such as Gulfstream and Dassault Falcon aircraft.