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Martinsville Today
By the People, for the People
Chase Elliott Ends Hendrick Drought at Martinsville
NASCAR star secures first win of 2026 season at iconic Virginia track
Mar. 30, 2026 at 11:13am
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A cubist interpretation of the intense action and competition at the historic Martinsville Speedway NASCAR race.Martinsville TodayNASCAR driver Chase Elliott won the Cook Out 400 race at Martinsville Speedway, ending Hendrick Motorsports' 2026 winless drought. The victory was Elliott's 37th career Cup Series win and his first of the 2026 season.
Why it matters
Martinsville is one of NASCAR's most historic and challenging tracks, and Elliott's win marks an important milestone for the Hendrick Motorsports team, which had struggled to find victory lane earlier in the 2026 campaign.
The details
Elliott led 185 of the 500 laps at the 0.526-mile paperclip-shaped Martinsville circuit, holding off a late charge from Denny Hamlin to secure the checkered flag. The win was Elliott's fifth career victory at the Virginia short track.
- The Cook Out 400 took place on March 30, 2026.
- Elliott's last win at Martinsville came in October 2024.
The players
Chase Elliott
The 30-year-old driver is a former NASCAR Cup Series champion and one of the sport's most popular and successful competitors.
Denny Hamlin
A veteran driver who is chasing Kyle Busch and Dale Earnhardt on the all-time NASCAR wins list, Hamlin finished second to Elliott at Martinsville.
Hendrick Motorsports
One of NASCAR's premier racing organizations, Hendrick Motorsports had been winless in the 2026 season prior to Elliott's victory at Martinsville.
What they’re saying
“This is a huge win for our team. We've been working hard and it's great to finally get back to victory lane.”
— Chase Elliott, NASCAR Driver
“Chase just had the better car today. I gave it my all at the end but couldn't quite catch him.”
— Denny Hamlin, NASCAR Driver
What’s next
Elliott and the Hendrick team will look to build on this momentum as the NASCAR season continues, with the next race scheduled for April 13th at Richmond Raceway.
The takeaway
Elliott's win at the historic Martinsville Speedway not only ends Hendrick's 2026 winless drought, but also solidifies the young driver's status as one of the top talents in NASCAR today.
