For Chase Elliott, simply being in contention for a victory at an unfamiliar track wasn’t enough.

Instead, Elliott expresses disappointment about a last-lap mistake that probably cost him a win in the ARCA race at Road America just few weeks ago  – an example of just how much the son of NASCAR icon “Awesome Bill” Elliott expects from himself.

“Pretty disappointed, to be honest with you,” Elliott said afterward. “I feel like we had a car to win, and I always talk about having mistake-free days – and I didn’t have that.”

Elliott was dicing for the lead with Andrew Ranger on the last lap when the two came to Turn five, a sharp left-hander at the end of a long straightaway on the four-mile road course in Central Wisconsin. Elliott’s car swerved off-line and Ranger got loose as well, allowing Chris Buescher to take the lead and hold on for the win.

“Me and Andrew were just racing really hard, got into Turn 5 a little deep, we both started wheel hopping,” Elliott said, referring to the way a car becomes difficult to control under heavy braking. “And unfortunately when you’re that guy on the bottom, you’re kind of in a tough place when you get to wheel-hopping like that. So just spun around and ended our day. It was just a mistake on my end.”

Elliott finished fourth – another display of impressive potential for the 17-year-old Elliott, who won the ARCA race at Pocono.

How is his career progressing?

“I’d say I’m happy,” Elliott said. “I wouldn’t say I’m satisfied. I’ve got a lot of room to grow and get better, and that showed today.”

Also recently named as one of ‘NASCAR’s Next’ drivers, Chase Elliott is proving he is worthy of the designation. Formerly NASCAR’s ‘Next Nine’ program in 2012, 13 drivers are in the program this year as élite drivers for fans to watch as their careers progress this season.

Chase Elliott is our next guest on Fan4Racing Fan2Fan NASCAR Talk, Monday, July 8th at 9pm ET. Fans can interact with Chase Elliott during the Q&A segment of the LIVE broadcast by calling 347-996-5176.