In the quiet hills of North Georgia, there is a legendary pool room with a siren on the roof. For decades, it has wailed only when a member of the Elliott family takes the checkered flag. It is a local tradition, a sound that signifies victory for the town’s favorite sons.

But today, the siren’s metaphorical echo is ringing out far beyond the city limits of Dawsonville. It is resonating in New York, London, and beyond. In a moment that bridges the gap between American stock car tradition and global recognition, Chase Elliott has been named to TIME magazine’s prestigious list of the 100 most influential people in global sports.

For NASCAR, a sport often fighting for mainstream relevance in a fragmented media landscape, this is a monumental victory. For Chase Elliott, the driver of the No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, it is the final stamp of validation. He has risen from the shadow of a colossal legacy to become the undisputed face of American motorsport. His leadership and impact—behind the wheel and off the track—prove he is more than just a racer; he is a true cultural force.

Escaping the Shadow of “Awesome Bill”

To understand the magnitude of Chase Elliott’s rise, one must understand the weight he has carried since birth. He is the son of Bill Elliott, “Awesome Bill from Dawsonville,” a NASCAR Hall of Famer and one of the most beloved figures in the history of the sport.

In racing dynasties, the “son of” label can be a curse. The pressure to replicate the success of a father has crushed many promising careers. But Chase Elliott did not just survive the pressure; he absorbed it. TIME’s profile highlights this quiet fortitude. He didn’t enter the Cup Series as a loud, brash rookie demanding attention. He arrived with a stoic, workmanlike demeanor that belied his age.

He honored the history—restoring the iconic No. 9 to glory and winning the 2020 Cup Series Championship—but he did it his way. He traded his father’s southern boisterousness for a modern, calculated precision. He didn’t just inherit the throne; he built his own castle.

The Silent Assassin Behind the Wheel

On the track, Elliott represents the evolution of the NASCAR athlete. The days of the beer-drinking, rough-housing brawler are fading. Elliott is the prototype of the modern elite driver: technically gifted, physically fit, and versatile.

TIME points to his prowess on road courses—tracks that require right turns and technical shifting—as a key factor in his global appeal. By dominating on circuits that resemble Formula 1 or European touring car tracks, Elliott has garnered respect from the international racing community. He has shown that a NASCAR driver can be a world-class operator, not just someone who drives in circles.

“Chase drives with the cold calculation of a chess master in a sport that is usually a bar fight at 200 mph,” notes a motorsport analyst in the TIME feature. “He brings a level of sophistication to the cockpit that challenges every stereotype about stock car racing.”

The People’s Champion in a Digital Age

Perhaps the most significant metric of Elliott’s influence is his stranglehold on the “Most Popular Driver” award. He has won the fan vote year after year, taking the mantle from Dale Earnhardt Jr. But his popularity is different.

While he is soft-spoken, his connection with the fanbase is ironclad. He bridges the divide between the “Old Guard” (fans who loved his dad and the sport’s southern roots) and the “New Wave” (younger fans drawn in by Netflix docuseries and social media). He is the anchor that holds the sport’s demographic together.

TIME recognizes that Elliott is the essential ambassador for NASCAR’s bold new direction. As the sport experiments with street races in Chicago, races in stadiums in Los Angeles, and potential international exhibitions, it is Chase Elliott they put on the poster. He is the safe pair of hands, the clean-cut superstar who represents the brand with dignity and competitive fire.

A Cultural Force

Being named to the TIME100 places Elliott alongside global titans like Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton. It is an acknowledgment that motorsport is not just about the car; it is about the personality driving it.

Chase Elliott’s influence extends to how he handles the spotlight. In a noise-polluted world, he remains famously private, a snowboarder and pilot who prefers the mountains to the red carpet. Paradoxically, this mystery makes him even more compelling. In an era of oversharing, Elliott’s “less is more” approach has turned him into an enigma that fans are desperate to solve.

He has become a cultural force by proving that you don’t have to be the loudest voice in the room to be the most heard. You just have to be the best.

The Siren Wails On

As the NASCAR season throttles forward, Chase Elliott enters the garage not just as a champion, but as a certified global influencer. The accolade from TIME is a message to the world that NASCAR has a star whose wattage can illuminate stages far bigger than Daytona or Talladega.

The boy from Dawsonville has done his family proud. But more importantly, he has done his sport proud. The siren on the pool room roof might be a local tradition, but thanks to Chase Elliott, the world is now listening.