Ross Chastain’s Bold Move Sends Chase Elliott Spinning, But Elliott’s Remarkable Recovery Steals the Show at COTA
In a daring and aggressive move that will likely be remembered as one of the boldest divebomb attempts in NASCAR history, Trackhouse Racing’s Ross Chastain made a play for the lead just seconds into Sunday’s EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix at Circuit of the Americas (COTA) in Austin, Texas. However, his move—one with a less than 0% chance of working—resulted in disaster for one driver: Hendrick Motorsports’ Chase Elliott.
Chastain’s Risky Move Backfires
As the green flag waved, Chastain, who had been fighting for position all weekend, launched his car into turn one on lap one, aiming to overtake the field in a dramatic fashion. However, his divebomb attempt went awry, as he made contact with Elliott, sending the No. 9 Chevrolet into a spin. The spin dropped Elliott from a promising third position all the way to 37th—dead last in the field of 38 cars.
The impact of Chastain’s bold move wasn’t just a momentary hiccup. It knocked Elliott’s chances of victory into serious jeopardy, leaving him with a huge deficit to overcome if he was to recover. But instead of fuming about the situation or plotting payback, Elliott, who is known for his road course prowess, set his sights on one thing: redemption.
Elliott’s Remarkable Recovery: A Tale of Persistence
Despite the setback, Elliott wasn’t about to let a disastrous turn one spoil his entire race. Known for his superior road course skills—Elliott is third on the all-time road course win list—he set to work making up the lost ground, channeling his natural talent to dig out of a hole that seemed too deep to overcome.
His recovery effort on Sunday was nothing short of impressive, echoing a similar moment from the 2019 Charlotte Motor Speedway Roval race. That day, Elliott found himself in a similar situation, after a restart mistake left him in 31st position. Against all odds, he stormed back through the field to win, passing every other car in the final stage and ultimately taking the victory.
While Elliott couldn’t replicate that exact feat at COTA, his performance on Sunday came impressively close. After working his way back into the top 15, Elliott’s decision to pit for fresh tires late in the race allowed him to make a final push toward the front. By the time the
The Final Result: A Win for Bell, but Elliott Steals the Spotlight
The race ultimately ended with Joe Gibbs Racing’s Christopher Bell claiming the win, followed by Hendrick Motorsports’ William Byron and 23XI Racing’s Tyler Reddick. These three drivers made up the top finishers, continuing a trend where COTA’s race has been dominated by a familiar group of winners: Bell, Byron, and Reddick are all previous winners at the track.
Though Elliott was never in the battle for the win, his late-race surge left fans wondering what might have been had the race lasted a few laps longer or had there been a late caution. By the time the 95-lap event concluded, Elliott had shaved several seconds off the lead of the top three, showing that he still had the speed and determination to make an impact on the road courses in NASCAR’s Next Gen era.
As for Chastain, his race ended with a 12th-place finish. His aggressive move on lap one didn’t work out, and he would ultimately be passed by Elliott as the race progressed. Despite his early struggles, Chastain’s finish showed that he had the speed to recover, but it was clear that his gamble on lap one had cost him dearly.
While the day wasn’t a victory for Elliott, it was a remarkable display of his ability to recover from adversity and show why he’s one of the best road course racers in NASCAR history. His performance on Sunday at COTA was a testament to his skill, determination, and resilience, proving that even when things go wrong early on, Elliott can still make something special out of a race.
Chastain’s early aggression will likely be remembered as a high-risk, high-reward move that didn’t pay off, while Elliott’s recovery reminded everyone why he is the king of road courses, even when the odds are stacked against him. With a little more luck or a few more laps, Elliott might have had the opportunity to repeat his 2019 Charlotte miracle—but on this day, he had to settle for a well-earned fourth-place finish and the knowledge that he still has the speed to challenge for wins on any road course.
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