Chase Elliott put an end to his 42-race winless streak at the Texas Motor Speedway. The Hendrick Motorsports driver had a fierce battle in the latter stages of the race and emerged victorious, breaking the three-decade-old curse associated with Hooters. This win was a dream come true for the former Cup series champion.
In the early stages of the race, Chase Elliott was not among the top contenders, failing to secure any stage finishes in Stage one or Stage two. However, he quickly made his way through the field on lap 266. This move set a precedent for the Hendrick Motorsports driver, as it marked the end of the victory drought for a Hooters-sponsored driver since 1992.
After winning the race, the driver of the No. 9 Chevy performed a Polish victory lap, a tradition started by the Polish American champion Alan Kulwicki. Chase Elliott expressed his joy in fulfilling his dream of honoring the racing legend and breaking the curse associated with Hooters. He seemed satisfied with his performance.
Although Chase Elliott has been turning heads throughout his 2024 campaign in NASCAR, he still has a long way to go to catch up with the current leaders. He has been facing tough competition from his teammates recently. With Elliott’s victory adding to his teammates’ successes, William Byron could face challenges in the middle part of the season.
The driver of the No. 24 car initially challenged for the lead but eventually settled for third place under pressure from behind. This may have been discouraging for him, but the 26-year-old remained supportive of his teammates.
“It’s awesome. All of us are pushing each other to improve. I know how hard they have worked, and they are a very capable team. It’s great to see them achieving good results, and Chase is a dedicated teammate. I’m always rooting for those guys,” said William Byron.
Despite the setback, Byron remains optimistic about his teammates and now sets his sights on conquering Talladega. He already has two second-place finishes at the Speedway and aims to claim victory this time at the high-speed track.