Chase Elliott gets his first Cup victory
WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. – Forget the “Big Three” for one weekend, at least. Chase Elliott finally has the big one.
Elliott, the 22-year-old son of NASCAR Hall of Famer Bill Elliott, led the final third of Sunday afternoon’s Go Bowling at The Glen on the road course at Watkins Glen International for his first career victory in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series.
Elliott, racing in his 99th Cup race, had come close multiple times in the past three years, recording eight runner-up finishes.
‘Holy cow! What a thrill, I don’t know what to say,” an emotional Elliott said after climbing out of his car. “There’s so much relief, you know. It’s been working on three years and I hadn’t won, but came here with a good opportunity today and was able to get it done.”
The 90-lap race came down to a twodriver battle between reigning series champion Martin Truex Jr. and Elliott over the final 20 laps.
With a lap and a half left, Truex missed the exit of the Inner Loop and Elliott gained some breathing room. Elliott gave most of his lead right back at the start of the final lap when he started to wheel-hop in Turn 1. He recovered in time to maintain the lead before winning comfortably when Truex ran out of fuel.
“I gave it all I had for our guys,” Truex said. “I could catch him. I’d just get loose and fall back. Hats off to him. He did a great job. He put his car exactly where I needed to put mine. So congratulations to him on his first win.”
Truex was able to limp home to second place. Kyle Busch held the lead until a fuel mishap during a pit stop severely damaged his hopes. He managed to fight his way from 33rd to third.
Coming into the weekend, the “Big Three” of Busch, Truex and Kevin Harvick had combined to capture 16 of the first 21 Cup races this season, with Busch and Harvick having won six times each.
Elliott ended up running out of fuel himself on the celebration lap. Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jimmie Johnson gave Elliott a push back around. The victory was also the 250th for Hendrick Motorsports in NASCAR’s premier series.