Hendrick Motorsports driver Chase Elliott took his second NASCAR Cup Series win of the season at Texas last Sunday. However, it is only the beginning of more success for the HMS driver, as he wishes to carry the momentum into more triumphs.

With the Texas win under his belt, which came with a 0.407-second margin over Denny Hamlin, Elliott became the second driver with multiple wins this season alongside Tyler Reddick. The No. 9 Chevrolet driver now stands third in the standings, with an 117-point deficit to leader Reddick, who has won five races.

While talking to SiriusXM NASCAR radio, Chase Elliott driver spoke about laying down the foundation for a championship. He said, "I told all of our guys yesterday to enjoy that (Texas win), and it's a big deal. You know it's tough to do, and it's tough to win any race. It's tough to win one race a year. Been there too, right? And I think that it's always important to remember that stuff, so 100% enjoy it

While Elliott urged his team to relish the victory, he also emphasized that they still know the game is far from over.

"It's not like the pressure’s off. I said this after Martinsville. I love getting this opportunity and a long runway to build on and a longer chance for us to improve it and make it better yet. I think it can be better yet. I think you know we have a really talented group of people," he added. 

In the last three races, the #9 driver has been consistently finishing in the top 10. It is also the first time in 11 seasons that Elliott has won two races this early in the season.

Chase Elliott's crew chief sets his eyes on the Cup championship

Despite winning two races early on in the season, Elliott's crew chief, Alan Gustafson, believes that the team is not operating at its full potential. As Chevrolet continues to develop its new body style, HMS has been producing positive results, which proves that the team and the OEM still have untapped potential. 

Keeping this in mind, Gustafson was questioned before the Texas race if Reddick was safe from being thrown out of the title contention. “Okay. Do the math, right. After 10, Tyler Reddick had over a 100-point lead. Theoretically, if you repeat those races, he could start 16th and win the championship, right? So I think anything is possible."

He further added, "I do think, look, everybody wants as many points as you can get. Certainly, the best teams are going to position themselves towards the top. I’m not sleeping on anybody. I mean, somebody can figure something out and get hot. I don’t think 100 points makes anybody safe."

Chase Elliott's Texas run went down to the wire. It was him or Denny Hamlin for their second Cup wins of 2026. However, Hamlin felt that his HMS rival had a slight edge starting on the inside on the restart.

Read more at the RFK Racing Digest!

Written by

Chionia Libania Colaco

Edited by

Yask Kotak