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Kirby Smart plans to reach out to NASCAR driver Chase Elliott, who quoted Georgia coach after first win
By Jake Rill
Published:
Chase Elliott notched his first career win in the NASCAR Monster Energy Cup Series on Sunday. Then, while celebrating after the race, he revealed he watched Kirby Smart’s comments from SEC Media Days earlier in the day.
Smart heard that Elliott mentioned him after the race, and now the Georgia coach has plans to reach out to the NASCAR driver.
On Tuesday, while speaking to the media, including Anthony Dasher of UGASports.com, Smart said he wants to contact Elliott, a native of Dawsonville, Ga., to thank him for being a Bulldogs fan. Elliott mentioned Smart’s “pressure is a privilege” comment that the coach made when discussing the high expectations for Georgia this season.
Smart compared Elliott’s first career win to where his Bulldogs team is currently at.
“For him to be so close and finally pushing it over the top … that’s what we’re trying to do now,” Smart said, according to Justin Felder of FOX 5 in Atlanta.
Before Elliott heard the inspirational phrase come from Smart, the Georgia coach heard it from somebody else. According to The Athletic’s Seth Emerson, Smart said he heard “pressure is a privilege” from comments once made by tennis legend Billie Jean King.
“I probably should’ve given her credit at SEC Media Days,” Smart said, per Emerson.
Jake Rill contributes to news coverage for Saturday Down South. He has covered the SEC since 2016.
