Chase Elliott Reminisces His First Victory at Martinsville Despite Having a “Terrible” Race

Published 04/07/2024, 4:32 AM EDT

On a high-stakes Sunday at Martinsville Speedway during the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series Playoff race, the Xfinity 500, Chase Elliott faced a “must-win” scenario. His goal was to secure a spot in the Championship 4 and contend for the coveted Cup title in the following weekend. Piloting the No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro, Elliott skillfully navigated to the lead in the final 44 laps. His relentless drive widened the gap, allowing him to seal the win with a significant 6.577-second lead. The stands cheered as the then 24-year-old took the checkered flag.

This victory, however, signified more than just a race win. It was a defining moment for Elliott, propelling him into Championship 4. In a candid conversation, he reflected on that memorable day, sharing insights on how he clinched a victory despite enduring a difficult race.

Chase Elliott’s outing at Martinsville 2020

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After securing a third spot in the qualifiers for the upcoming Cup Series race at Martinsville this weekend, Elliott engaged in an interview with Frontstretch. When asked about his momentous win back in 2020, Elliott expressed that the uniqueness of the experience, being his first, was what made it special. He also stated that the race itself was far from ideal. HMS’ #9 also described how that win was an important turnaround for his and his teammates’ careers.

“Yeah, I mean other than just the race being my first one and the things that were special around that. The race itself was terrible. So, I, you know, it was such a special weekend. I just remember being here and trying to make the race and the rain was an issue. We didn’t think we were going to get to qualify. And that was going jg to put us in a position where we were going to miss the show and ran out of here just in time. Got track dried off and was able to qualify and run. So yeah, special place for that, and uh, wish the race had gone better. But it had to start somewhere,” said Elliott.

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Chase Elliott acknowledged that the victory was monumental, as it gave them an opportunity to compete the following weekend. He continued, “Up there for sure, I mean that win was a huge win. Because it propelled us to having a shot the next weekend. So, couldn’t have come at a bigger moment, really. As it pertains just to the overall scope of what that year ended up being, and it’s meaning to our team and all of our careers.”

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Later that year, he went on to become the third-youngest Cup Series champion in NASCAR history. This also established him and his father, Bill Elliott, as the third father-son duo to both have won the NASCAR Cup Series championship, marking quite a unique achievement.

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The birth of a new star amidst the greats!

Chase Elliott expressed immense joy over his first victory at Martinsville. That triumph earned him his inaugural Martinsville Grandfather Clock, a prize given to each winner at the vwnue. He conveyed his pride in overcoming the challenge of having to secure a win under pressure, something he felt had been lacking in the past four or five years. Elliott acknowledged the significance of performing under such circumstances and appreciated the fans for their presence, noting his affection for the crowd.

“I’m just so proud to be able to be backed into a corner like that and have to win tonight. I feel like that’s what we’ve been missing these past four or five years and perform when we don’t have a choice. And, to do that tonight; we couldn’t ask for a better night…Thanks to the fans for coming out. They’re here and I love to see it! I’ve just got to catch my breath,” the driver had said at the time.

While Elliott basked in his victory and Joey Logano, who finished third, had already clinched his Championship 4 berth with a win at Kansas, the battle for the remaining two playoff positions intensified. In the race’s climactic final laps, the focus shifted to Denny Hamlin, Brad Keselowski, and Kevin Harvick. Ultimately, it was Harvick, presumed to be safely 42 points ahead of the playoff threshold, who found himself unexpectedly excluded, missing the cut by a mere eight points.

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Written by:

Mamata Mukherjee is a NASCAR Writer at EssentiallySports. Combining her love for writing and motorsports she has created some interesting and in-depth stories on drivers like Kyle Busch and Dale Earnhardt Jr. Joining ES with 3 years of experience in the field of writing, Mamata feels right at home in her role as a NASCAR Journalist.

Edited by:

Ariva Debnath