Strategy gamble helps Chase Elliott to Martinsville NASCAR Cup win
Motorsport.com • • sports
Key Points:
- Chase Elliott secured Hendrick Motorsports' first win of 2026 at Martinsville Speedway by overtaking Ross Chastain on the final restart and holding off Denny Hamlin, who dominated most of the race.
- Elliott's strategic two-stop gamble during the final stint, called by crew chief Alan Gustafson, proved pivotal as a timely caution helped him gain track position and ultimately win the race.
- Denny Hamlin led most of the race and won both stages but finished second after Elliott's late charge; Joey Logano, Ty Gibbs, and William Byron rounded out the top five.
- Shane van Gisbergen continued his strong oval performance by finishing 11th after a top-five qualifying effort, while Tyler Reddick maintains the points lead, 82 ahead of Ryan Blaney.
- The race featured multiple cautions, strategic pit stops, and incidents including a multi-car wreck late in the race that shuffled the running order and influenced the final outcome.
