Statistically, Hendrick Motorsports is the most successful team in the history of the NASCAR Cup Series. Some of the greatest drivers, including Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson, have raced for the team over the years, with the current crop including Kyle Larson and Chase Elliott also on a similar trajectory to greatness.
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When Chase Elliott joined the team back in 2016 as a full-time driver, he wasn’t able to win anything till the 2018 season came around. It was at this point that Elliott grabbed his first win and added to a rather remarkable milestone for his team.
Recently, while speaking on an interview podcast, the HMS driver mentioned the time when he got HMS’s 250th Cup Series win, also expanding on how he would like to play his part in grabbing the 300th win for the team if he got the chance.
Chase Elliott looks forward to achieving the next Hendrick milestone
Speaking with BVM Sports, Elliott stated, “I mean, I think for me personally, I just want to, I just want to help. I just want to help get there. Would I love to be the one to get across the finish line? Sure, absolutely. But I just want to feel like I’m doing my part. I had honor of winning race 250 for HMS, which was my first win so that was a special day for a lot of different reasons.”
“But I did feel like I got, you know, a pretty neat opportunity and a really special day on multiple accounts. So you know, I just said I would love to get us across the finish line over 300. But just know that I played a small role and that huge number I’m proud of, and I’ll be proud of that regardless.”
Where was Chase Elliott’s first win?
Elliott brought home his #9 Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports at Watkins Glen International. It was a road course race, and Elliott had been running well, conserving just enough fuel to make it to the finish line.
The final lap of the race had been a dash for Elliott who was in the lead, with Martin Truex Jr. charging really hard from behind. With just a couple of corners remaining Truex Jr. ran out of fuel, from there it was smooth sailing for the Dawsonville native.
Following the race, he was stranded during his cool-down lap, and during that moment his then-teammate, the legendary Jimmie Johnson parked next to him to congratulate him. After Johnson realized that Elliott had run out of fuel, he backed up and then began pushing Elliott’s car all the way to victory lane.
It was truly an iconic moment considering it was Elliott’s first Cup Series win and Hendrick Motorsports’ 250th win as a team. Currently, HMS stands at 297 wins and if Elliott is able to take the 300th win, he might make it to the HMS history books once again.
