Good pit strategy and a highly motivated team rallied Hendrick Motorsports and Chase Elliott to the NASCAR Cup Series victory Sunday in the Cook Out 400 at Martinsville Speedway.
It was the kind of win that shows why Martinsville remains one of the best tracks on the calendar. Short track racing. Strategy calls. The right tires at the right time. Elliott's crew chief made the call, and the No. 9 team executed.
The Bigger Picture
While Tyler Reddick continues to dominate the 2026 standings with an 82-point lead, Elliott's win is a reminder that Hendrick Motorsports isn't going away quietly. With Kyle Larson, William Byron, and Alex Bowman all capable of winning on any given week, the Hendrick stable is the deepest in the garage.
Elliott needed this one. The former champion has had strong runs without the results to show for it early in 2026. Martinsville - with its tight confines and emphasis on team execution - was the perfect place for a breakthrough.