Chase Elliott Secures Strategic Martinsville Victory to End Chevrolet Winless Streak

Chase Elliott captures the Cook Out 400 at Martinsville, using a late-race strategy to beat a dominant Denny Hamlin and secure Chevrolet's first 2026 win.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 30, 2026, 8:41 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from NASCAR

The Strategic Gamble That Defined the Afternoon

While the stat sheet showed Denny Hamlin as the dominant force of the day, the race was ultimately decided by a high-stakes strategy call from the No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports team. Elliott and crew chief Alan Gustafson committed to an early two-stop strategy during the final stage, intentionally pitting earlier than the leaders. This move was designed to prioritize track position over tire freshness, a risky maneuver at a short track like Martinsville where "clean air" at the front of the pack is often more valuable than new rubber.

Denny Hamlin’s Dominance Interrupted by Debris

For the first 300 laps, the race appeared to be Hamlin’s to lose. The Joe Gibbs Racing driver led a staggering 292 of 400 laps, sweeping both Stage 1 and Stage 2. However, the complexion of the race changed on lap 312 when a caution flag flew for debris. This neutralized Hamlin’s tire advantage and allowed Elliott, who had already gained significant ground through his pit cycle, to take control of the restart. Hamlin later lamented a poor restart alongside Ross Chastain, which buried him in traffic and prevented a successful late-race charge.

Elliott Reflects on First Early Season Win

The victory marks a significant milestone for Elliott, who noted that he had never secured a win this early in a Cup Series calendar. The Georgia native credited the Unifirst Chevrolet team for their persistence, acknowledging that while his car might not have been the fastest in clean air initially, his balance was strong enough to manage the pace once he secured the lead. Elliott’s ability to navigate lap traffic in the closing stages proved to be the final hurdle in securing the grandfather clock trophy.