Chase Elliott ends his 42-race winless streak at Texas Motor Speedway. The Hendrick Motorsports driver had a fierce battle in the final stages of the race and emerged victorious, breaking the three-decade curse associated with Hooters. This victory 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 position in stages one or two. However, he quickly rose through the pack by lap 266. This move set a precedent for the Hendrick Motorsports driver, as it marked the end of the winless streak for a Hooters-sponsored driver since 1992.
After winning the race, the driver of the #9 Chevy performed a Polish victory lap, a tradition started by 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 content with his performance.
While Chase Elliott has been making waves throughout his 2024 NASCAR campaign, he still has a long way to go to catch up with the current leaders. He has been facing strong competition from his teammates recently. With Elliott’s win adding to the successes of his teammates, William Byron may face challenges in the mid-season.
The driver of the #24 car initially contended for the lead but ended up settling for third under pressure from behind. This may have been disheartening for him, but the 26-year-old continues to support his teammates.
“It’s amazing. We are all striving 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 always root for these guys,” said William Byron.
Despite the setback, Byron remains optimistic about his teammates and now aims to conquer Talladega. He has already achieved two second places at the Speedway and aims to win this time on the high-speed track.