Chase Elliott secures first 2024 NASCAR win with Martinsville masterclass
Martinsville, Va. (AP) - The strategy calls don't always work out for Chase Elliott in the Cup Series.
So when the plan comes together - as it did in a victory Sunday at Martinsville Speedway - it's especially sweet for NASCAR's eight-time most popular driver and his legions of adoring fans.
"It's really cool when this stuff works out, and to win these races is so tough," Elliott said while celebrating on the frontstetch to huge cheers after his first win this season and the 22nd of his career. "So just really, really grateful for the opportunity. I never take it for granted. Trust me, this is a dream come true for me."
The 30-year-old from Dawsonville, Georgia, capitalized on a shrewd gamble by crew chief Alan Gustafson to pit the No. 9 Chevrolet earlier than the other contenders. When the caution flew on the 312th lap, Elliott was in second behind Denny Hamlin and pitted with the rest of the lead-lap drivers aside from Ross Chastain, who took the lead by staying on track.
Elliott took first from Chastain after a restart and led the final 69 laps to win by 0.565 seconds over Hamlin's No. 11 Toyota.
"(Elliott) did a good job of controlling the pace there," Hamlin said. "It just really came from that bad restart I had. Just not much really I could have done, and it felt like we gave it our all. We'll check it out here, but I just thought the wheel was loose here on that last run. Either way, these are just some of the races that get away from you and your career."
The win came 11 years to the day of Elliott's debut in the Cup Series. He finished 38th in the March 29, 2015, race that was won by Hamlin. Elliott said he was reminded of the anniversary at an autograph session Sunday morning.
"A couple fans that were here that day came up to me and told me about it," Elliott said. "So I got to thinking about it. Really cool to kind of see all that come full circle."
