This refers to being in first place overall in the 12 Elite Races only (the last race of each episode). *Note - you do not have to place first in every Elite Race to get this (I became first overall with 5 first place, 4 second place and 3 third place finishes).
You can check your stats at the end of each Elite Race to see how you're doing in the rankings and how many points you need to become first overall in the standings.
To get first or second place finishes in the Elite Races, I found what worked best for me was to:
- never use a Power Play in the first lap (because it doesn't really make a difference in the long run if you wreck someone that early in the race). I let my meter build up instead.
- initially stay in the last half of the pack, filling up my meter through drafting and drifting and then in the second lap I either triggered a Route Changer or second-level Power Play that would usually take out every racer ahead of me and vault me to the head of the pack.
- for the last lap, use single Power Plays for any pesky drivers who try to overtake you.
If you're like me and are going for this by redoing certain races after having completed the season, then you'll also have the advantage of getting to choose from cars with higher stats to race with (*Final Note - if you are going for the achievement this way and you find it doesn't pop for you even though the standings show you in first place overall, load up the Elite Race from episode 12 again and it should pop right before the race begins - at least that's how it did for me).
Good Luck!