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Chase Elliott Claims Second Texas Win, Beats Hamlin

5/4/2026

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Summary

Elliott Wins Texas

Chase Elliott won the Wurth 400 at Texas Motor Speedway on Sunday, May 3 2026.
He led 87 laps and, after a late caution with 11 laps left, chose the bottom lane to pass Denny Hamlin on Turn 2.
Elliott beat Hamlin by 0.407 seconds for his second win of the season and 23rd career victory.
Starting 14th, he stayed out on old tires and received a push from Alex Bowman on the restart.

Summary

Hamlin Cuts Deficit

Denny Hamlin finished second, cutting the 110-point deficit to points leader Tyler Reddick.
Texas Motor Speedway officials said the race drew a surprisingly large crowd.
Christopher Bell called for performance changes within NASCAR after his crash ended his race.
Alex Bowman returned from a month-long vertigo battle to earn a season-best third place.
Erik Jones captured his first stage win of the season in Stage 1, earning ten stage points.

History

Historical Context

On February 18 2001 the Daytona 500 ended with Dale Earnhardt’s fatal crash, prompting NASCAR to mandate HANS head-neck restraints on October 17 2001 and install SAFER barriers at all premier ovals. Those reforms, first applied to the Car of Tomorrow, have kept the three-series Cup free of driver deaths, a safety legacy now evident at today’s Texas Motor Speedway event.

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Elliott Wins Texas

Chase Elliott won the Wurth 400 at Texas Motor Speedway on Sunday, May 3 2026.
He led 87 laps and, after a late caution with 11 laps left, chose the bottom lane to pass Denny Hamlin on Turn 2.
Elliott beat Hamlin by 0.407 seconds for his second win of the season and 23rd career victory.
Starting 14th, he stayed out on old tires and received a push from Alex Bowman on the restart.

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