Full Breakdown
Chase Elliott Wins at Texas Motor Speedway – Second Cup Victory of 2026
5/4/2026, 12:12:30 PM
Background & Track History
Texas Motor Speedway, a 1½-mile intermediate oval, has been a challenging venue for the Next Gen car. Elliott has publicly criticized the recent reconfiguration of turns 1 and 2, saying he “trashed this place for years” and “didn’t like what they did to the track.” Despite his reservations, the No. 9 Chevrolet secured its second win at the circuit in three years, joining his 2024 victory.
Key Performers and Team Dynamics
Hendrick Motorsports’ No. 9 Chevrolet, driven by Chase Elliott, captured the win. Teammate Alex Bowman (No. 48) provided a decisive push on the final restart. Denny Hamlin (Joe Gibbs Racing, No. 11) finished second, while Bowman took third. Tyler Reddick (23XI Racing, No. 45) and Chris Buescher (RFK Racing, No. 17) completed the top five. Spire Motorsports’ Daniel Suarez (No. 7) and Carson Hocevar (No. 77) finished sixth and seventh, respectively.
Race Data and Statistics
The 267-lap event featured 23 lead changes among 11 drivers. Elliott led a race-high 87 laps and won by 0.407 seconds over Hamlin. Seven cautions accounted for 40 laps; 20 cars finished on the lead lap. Four drivers—Christopher Bell, Joey Logano, Corey Heim, and Ty Gibbs—recorded DNFs. Chevrolet logged its 19th series win at Texas, a record for the manufacturer.
On-Track Incidents and Driver Perspectives
Mid-race, Todd Gilliland spun and clipped Bell, sending the latter into the outside wall (Bell finished 38th). Pit-road chaos saw Logano collide with Cole Custer, and Gibbs strike the wall after contact with Ryan Preece. Kyle Larson spun on Turn 2, and a late-stage tangle involved John Hunter Nemechek and Kyle Busch. Drivers described the final restart as “a mad dash” and emphasized the importance of clean air and tire strategy.
Official Statements & Responses
Elliott thanked fans, highlighted the collective effort of “the whole No. 9 Chevrolet team and everybody at Hendrick Motorsports,” and noted the crew’s “phenomenal” work. Hamlin called the race “a good, decent day” but said the restart left him “one short.” Bowman praised his pit crew and called the third-place finish “a season-best.” Reddick described the day as “solid,” noting the two-tire stop that moved him from ninth to fourth. Buescher expressed pride in achieving a top-five finish after a long-standing struggle at Texas.
Criticism & Track Concerns
Elliott reiterated his dislike for the track’s recent changes, stating, “I’ve trashed this place for years. I didn’t like what they did to the track in turns one and two.” No other drivers offered formal criticism, though several highlighted the difficulty of navigating the high-speed banking and the impact of late-race cautions on strategy.
Impact on Championship and Upcoming Race
The victory marked Elliott’s 23rd career Cup win, his second of the season, and the earliest in a year he has secured multiple victories. He moved to third in the points standings, 117 points behind series leader Tyler Reddick and 110 behind Hamlin. Hendrick Motorsports recorded its first two-win season since 2018. The Cup series now heads to Watkins Glen International for the Go Bowling at The Glen on May 10.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Chase Elliott — winner: “Man, first off, thanks everybody for coming out.” — Chase Elliott, driver, No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports
- “I just felt like, man, if I didn't get clear off of [Turn] 2, I was going to be in a lot trouble,” — Chase Elliott
- “So, fortunately, Alex gave me a great push. I was able to execute Turns 1 and 2, get clear, and then just kind of manage the last few laps.” — Chase Elliott
- “I got the first part of the restart really well just he got that push from the 48 (Alex Bowman) right there right entering turn 1 and it was just enough to slow my momentum and pick his momentum up.” — Denny Hamlin, driver, No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing
- “But then, you know, just the way the side-draft works there into Turn 1, with him getting the push from the 48 (Bowman), it just allowed his momentum to pick up a little bit quicker than mine.” — Denny Hamlin
- “I’ve trashed this place for years, and I just, I didn’t like what they did to the racetrack in reconfiguring turns one and two.” — Chase Elliott
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on the total number of cautions: several reports list seven cautions for 40 laps, while others reference only four cautions during the race. Stage-winner information is consistent (Erik Jones won Stage 1; Elliott won Stage 2), but the exact timing of pit-stop decisions on the final restart varies among accounts, leaving a minor gap in the precise strategic sequence.
