Chase Elliott might have won the 2018 National Motorsports Press Association’s Most Popular Driver Award, but the 23-year-old Georgian is focused on one thing only, and that is performing his best in 2019.

Luckily for motorsports fans, this weekend NASCAR finally kicked back in gear Sunday. Elliot, the 2016 NASCAR Cup Series Rookie of the Year started the Daytona 500 in 18th position (of 40 cars), while 2018 NASCAR champ Joey Logano started in 4th, and Elliott’s Hendrick Motorsports teammate William Byron won pole position. At the checkered flag, No. 11 Toyota Camry driver Denny Hamlin won the Daytona 500.

Prior to the big weekend at Daytona, I got to speak to Elliott in person, to get a read on Elliott’s mindset for 2019, his race day preparation, and what he does when he’s not on the track.

Andy Frye: NASCAR 2019 is about to start, but how did you spend your time off since the last race? What do you do off-track?