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Chase Elliott Beats Denny Hamlin at Martinsville Speedway for 1st NASCAR Win of Season
Chase Elliott used an early pit stop strategy to lead the final 69 laps and secure his first NASCAR Cup Series win of the season at Martinsville Speedway.
- Chase Elliott outdueled Denny Hamlin to win the NASCAR Cup Series race at Martinsville Speedway on Sunday, earning his first victory of the season. The win came 11 years after his Cup Series debut at the same track.
- Crew chief Alan Gustafson orchestrated a shrewd pit strategy on the 312th lap when caution flew. While Ross Chastain stayed on track to lead, Elliott pitted with other lead-lap drivers for fresh tires.
- Elliott seized the lead from Chastain after a restart and led the final 69 laps to win by 0.565 seconds over Hamlin, securing the 22nd victory of his career.
- Hendrick Motorsports secured its first win this year at the track where it holds a record 31 victories. Elliott, voted NASCAR's most popular driver for eight consecutive seasons, celebrated on the frontstretch.
- The NASCAR Cup Series takes an off weekend for Easter before resuming its short-track swing. Competition continues on Sunday, April 12, at Bristol Motor Speedway in Tennessee.
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Chase Elliott Camp Addresses Rick Hendrick’s ‘Panic Button’ Call With 4-Word Message
For Chase Elliott, the Goodyear 400 wasn’t just another win, but rather a statement. Holding off Denny Hamlin by 0.565 seconds at Martinsville Speedway, Elliott delivered his first victory since Kansas in 2025 and handed Hendrick Motorsports its first win of 2026. But behind that breakthrough moment was something unexpected (and unknown to us till now). Hint: It was a timely message from Rick Hendrick that may have changed everything. Rick Hendr…
Coverage Details
Total News Sources15
Leaning Left6Leaning Right2Center6Last UpdatedBias Distribution43% Left, 43% Center
Bias Distribution
- 43% of the sources lean Left, 43% of the sources are Center
43% Center
L 43%
C 43%
14%
Factuality
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