Late clash helps end Elliott's 42-race win streak

Elliott took the lead for the time on a restart with eight of the scheduled 267 laps remaining after Ricky Stenhouse Jr. crashed in Turn 2, triggering the 12th caution of the race, and then took the lead on a restart with two laps to go against Denny Hamlin refused to go.

Kyle Larson then hit the wall in Turn 2, triggering another caution and setting up another restart with two laps to go, but Hamlin spun in Turn 4 while fighting with Elliott for the lead, sending the race into overtime .

But the 2020 NASCAR Cup champion then had to stay away from Ross Chastain in two overtime starts, a second caused by a crash between Harrison Burton and Kaz Grala, before finally securing victory when the caution was called after William Byron collided with Chastain as the pair battled for second place.

The victory ended a winning streak for Elliott that dates back to the 2022 season, a stretch in which he missed races due to a leg injury and a one-NASCAR race suspension.

With the caution necessary to ensure he could reach the checkered flag, an emotional Elliott said over his team radio: “I cannot tell you, each and every one of you, how much I appreciate you for staying by my side .”

With his 19th career win, Elliott becomes the third Hendrick Motorsports driver to win in the first nine races of the 2024 season.

Chase Elliott, Hendrick Motorsports, Hooters Chevrolet Camaro

Photo by: John Harrelson / NKP / Motorsport Images

“Oh man, I couldn’t feel better,” Elliott said after the race. “Hooter's has been a partner of ours for several years. It was a dream of mine to pay respects to the late Alan Kulwicki.”

“To drive this car to a win and do a Polish victory lap – it’s just really crazy how things have come full circle in that moment. It was quite emotional for me. He hit his father back then. Here we share his sponsor and “I have a chance to win today.

“I couldn't be more grateful for this journey and this path, which hasn't always been fun, but I've definitely enjoyed working with our guys. We worked really hard and really well together. Like I said, no.” “It wasn't always fun, but we enjoyed the fight together.”

The late collisions moved Brad Keselowski into second place for RFK Racing, while Elliot's Hendrick teammate Byron was third.

Tyler Reddick took fourth place for 23XI Racing, his best result since his second place in Las Vegas, while Daniel Suarez rounded out the top five for Trackhouse Racing.

NASCAR Cup – Texas race results