Chase Elliott punched his ticket to the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs on Sunday, beating out Brad Keselowski and teammate William Byron in a thrilling double-overtime finish to snap a 42-race winless streak for the 6-time Most Popular Driver. The 2020 Champion, clad in the black and orange Hooters livery, paid homage to the late Alan Kulwicki – who was originally sponsored by Hooters in the 1990s – with his reverse “Polish” victory lap in front of a packed front stretch as fans rushed to the catch fencing to see Elliott waving as he drove by.
With his first victory since the fall Talladega race in 2022, Elliott becomes the 3rd driver in the Hendrick stable to win in 2024, giving the organization 5 wins out of the first nine races.
The chaotic and incident-filled race saw Elliott and Denny Hamlin battling for the lead with two laps to go in regulation when, as the duo entered turn 3, Hamlin got loose on corner exit and backed his #11 Yahoo Toyota into the outside wall in turn 4, prompting the first of the overtimes. With 23 lead changes amongst 13 drivers and a grand total of 16 cautions, the spring visit to Texas Motor Speedway was as exciting as ever.
As teams head back home, the longest and most daunting track on the calendar is up next. The 2.66 mile Talladega Superspeedway is home to some of the fastest speeds and biggest wrecks of the year as everyone fights to stay alive an avoid “The Big One” – the almost guaranteed full-pack wreck that leaves teams packing with demolished cars and missed chances. Action for the race begins Sunday, April 21st, at 3:00pm ET on FOX.
