Chase Elliott Faces Year-long Winless Streak Ahead of Texas Return
As the NASCAR Cup Series returns to Texas Motor Speedway, fans and analysts alike are acutely aware that Chase Elliott, the sport’s most popular driver, has not secured a points-paying victory in over a year. His last win occurred on April 24, 2024, at the same venue.
“I’m not surprised it’s been a year; it’s just the way the calendar falls,” Elliott remarked when questioned about his lengthy winless spell. Despite the drought, he did achieve a non-points victory at the 2025 Cook Out Clash, where he dominated the field, leading 171 of 200 laps.
Elliott currently ranks fourth in the Cup Series championship standings, demonstrating consistent performance with six top-10 finishes in the last eight races. This position is a significant improvement from his seventh-place finish in the standings last year, showcasing not only the No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports team’s resilience but also Elliott’s ability to maintain competitive pace.
Historically, Elliott secured his first Cup Series win in 2018, amassing a total of 15 victories until 2022. However, his performance declined during the 2023 season, finishing without a win for the first time in his career. The victory at Texas last year marked the end of a 42-race winless streak.
While acknowledging the challenges faced, Elliott emphasized the importance of learning from both victories and setbacks. “You have to take those lessons and figure out how to make it better,” he noted. “We’ve had good opportunities to win at different points in time, but not on the consistent basis I expect of myself.”
Qualifying for Sunday’s race, Elliott will start in 29th position, underscoring the uphill battle he faces to reclaim winning form in the coming races.
