Elliott ends winless streak
Chase Elliott is back in victory lane. Elliott earned his first NASCAR Cup Series victory since the Talladega fall race in 2022, a span of 42 races. Elliott won the Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 400, holding off Ross Chastain, who spun out on the last lap of the overtime race after a nudge from Elliott’s teammate William Byron.
For Hendrick Motorsports, it’s the third win in four races and fifth Cup Series win of the 2024 season.
Our winners, besides Elliott, and losers after Sunday’s race at Texas Motor Speedway:
Winners
Brad Keselowski: OK, it’s not a win and his winless streak is now at 107 races. But Keselowski had his best race of the season and finally had one of the best cars late in the race. That’s a big step in the right direction for Keselowski, Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing and Ford. This is also his third top-five finish of the season.
Daniel Suarez: Suarez finished in fifth place, his best finish since winning at Atlanta. In between, he hasn’t cracked the top 10. What’s more impressive is his finish comes after he had dropped to the last car on the lead lap at 32nd at one point in the race.
Losers
Ross Chastain: Chastain had a second-place car in the final restart of the 400 on Sunday. He was racing race winner Elliott hard with a lap remaining. Then he spun when William Byron nudged the left rear, putting Chastain’s car in the wall and ending his day. He finished 32nd.
Denny Hamlin: Like Chastain, Hamlin had one of the fastest cars on the track at Texas Motor Speedway late in the race. But after an overtime restart, Hamlin spun out, but on his own, sending him into the wall and ruining his chances of a good finish. He ended the day 30th.
Kyle Larson: Larson started on the pole and had the dominant car early at Texas on Sunday. He led 77 laps and was in the lead when his right rear tire came off his car due to a loose lug nut. Larson finished 21st.