Chase Elliott Headlines NASCAR Texas Race Winners, Losers After 2nd Win of 2026

The echoes of roaring engines had barely faded at Texas Motor Speedway before the narrative of the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season shifted once again. On Sunday, May 3, Chase Elliott delivered a masterclass in resilience and raw speed, piloting his No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet to victory lane in the Wurth 400. It was his second win of the season—a month after his triumph at Martinsville—and it solidified Elliott as the definitive championship favorite heading into the summer stretch.

Elliott didn’t just win; he dominated. Leading a race-high 87 laps and sweeping Stage 2, the Georgia native had to fend off a furious late-race charge from Denny Hamlin after a late caution for Corey Heim’s spin tightened the field. The victory snapped a brief Hendrick Motorsports drought at Texas, marking Elliott’s second career win at the 1.5-mile track. But as the confetti settled on the frontstretch, the race left a trail of clear winners and losers that will shape the playoff picture for months to come.

Here are our expert breakdowns of who rose to the occasion and who left Fort Worth with more questions than answers.

The Winners: Who Shined Brightest Under the Texas Lights

Chase Elliott – The King of the 1.5-Mile Track

Let’s state the obvious: Chase Elliott is back to his 2020 championship form. His victory at Texas wasn’t a fluke or a fuel-mileage gamble. It was a statement. Elliott’s car was hooked up from the drop of the green flag, and his ability to manage tire wear on the abrasive Texas surface was second to none. The win at Martinsville a month ago proved he could win on a short track. This win proves he can win on an intermediate oval—the backbone of the Cup Series schedule.

• Key stat: Elliott now has multiple wins at Texas, joining an elite list of active drivers.
• Expert take: His late-race restart against Denny Hamlin was surgical. He chose the bottom lane, executed a perfect launch, and never gave Hamlin a real shot. This is the mark of a driver who is mentally unbreakable.

Denny Hamlin – The Silver Medal with a Silver Lining

While second place might sting for a competitor of Denny Hamlin’s caliber, his performance at Texas was a massive positive for the Joe Gibbs Racing camp. Hamlin led 42 laps and looked like the only driver who could hang with Elliott on the long run. The late caution for Corey Heim’s spin actually hurt Hamlin more than it helped, as his car was better on longer green-flag runs. Still, Hamlin’s No. 11 Toyota had speed that we haven’t seen consistently from JGR in 2026.

• Why he’s a winner: He earned 43 points and a Stage 1 win. If he keeps this pace, he’ll enter the playoffs as a top-3 seed.
• Prediction: Hamlin will win at Dover in two weeks. His intermediate program is clicking.

Hendrick Motorsports – The Reawakening

It’s no secret that Hendrick Motorsports had a sluggish start to the 2026 season by their standards. But with Elliott’s win at Texas, the organization now has three victories in the first 12 races. The No. 9 team, led by crew chief Alan Gustafson, showed flawless pit strategy and adjustments. More importantly, the other Hendrick cars—William Byron and Kyle Larson—both finished inside the top 12, showing that the entire stable is trending upward.

• Key insight: The Hendrick engines were noticeably stronger on the long straightaways at Texas. That horsepower advantage will play well at upcoming tracks like Kansas and Charlotte.

Corey Heim – The Unintentional Villain (and Future Star)

It might seem strange to list a driver who brought out a late caution as a “winner,” but hear me out. Corey Heim, driving for Tricon Garage, was running a career-best 14th before he spun exiting Turn 2. Yes, the caution changed the race. But Heim’s speed all day was undeniable. He was faster than several playoff drivers and showed that he belongs in the Cup Series full-time.

• Why he wins: He gained valuable seat time and proved he can run inside the top 15 at a demanding track. Expect a team to offer him a full-time Cup ride for 2027.

The Losers: Who Left Texas with a Gut Punch

Ryan Blaney – The Playoff Bubble Burst

The reigning 2023 Cup Series champion Ryan Blaney had a nightmare weekend in Texas. After qualifying 8th, Blaney’s No. 12 Ford suffered from a loose wheel early in Stage 1, causing him to fall two laps down. He never recovered, finishing 28th. With only one win in 2026, Blaney is now dangerously close to the playoff cut line.

• The problem: The Penske Fords lack raw speed on intermediate tracks. Blaney’s team is struggling with tire fall-off management.
• Expert take: If Blaney doesn’t win at Darlington or Charlotte, he could be watching the playoffs from home. This is a critical juncture for the Team Penske organization.

Christopher Bell – The Invisible Man

How does a driver who won at Phoenix earlier this year finish 19th at Texas and barely register on the broadcast? Christopher Bell had an anonymous day. He started 12th, ran in the middle of the pack for 400 miles, and never challenged for the lead. His Joe Gibbs Racing team looked a full second off the pace of teammate Denny Hamlin.

• Why he’s a loser: Consistency is the hallmark of a champion. Bell has been feast or famine—two wins but four finishes of 18th or worse.
• Prediction: Bell needs a top-5 at Darlington to regain momentum. If he doesn’t, he’ll be a first-round playoff exit.

Kevin Harvick – Father Time is Undefeated

At 50 years old, Kevin Harvick continues to defy logic, but Sunday was a harsh reminder of the sport’s evolution. Harvick finished 22nd, two laps down, after a pit road speeding penalty derailed his day. While Harvick still has flashes of brilliance, his Stewart-Haas Racing team is consistently a tick behind the top-tier organizations.

• The reality: Harvick has zero wins in 2026 and only three top-10 finishes. His playoff hopes rely entirely on points, and that path is narrowing.
• Final thought: Harvick is still a top-15 driver on his best day, but he’s no longer a weekly contender. The Texas race proved that.

Corey LaJoie – The Opportunity That Slipped Away

Driving for Spire Motorsports, Corey LaJoie had a career day brewing. He was running 11th with 50 laps to go, showing incredible pace on old tires. Then, a miscalculation on a restart sent him spinning into the wall, ending his day in 34th. For a driver fighting for a contract extension, this was a brutal missed opportunity.

• Why he’s a loser: He had a top-15 car. He threw it away with an overly aggressive move. These are the mistakes that keep mid-pack drivers from becoming stars.

Expert Analysis: What the Texas Race Tells Us About the 2026 Season

The Wurth 400 was a microcosm of the 2026 season so far: Chase Elliott is the class of the field, Toyota is inconsistent, and Ford is in trouble. Let’s break down the bigger picture.

1. The Championship is Elliott’s to Lose. With two wins in a five-race span, Elliott has separated himself from the pack. His ability to win on both a flat short track (Martinsville) and a high-speed intermediate (Texas) proves he has no weaknesses. The No. 9 team is peaking at the perfect time.

2. Toyota’s Split Personality. Denny Hamlin is a legitimate threat. Christopher Bell and Ty Gibbs are not. Joe Gibbs Racing needs to find a way to transfer the speed from Hamlin’s car to the others. If they can, Toyota could have three cars in the Championship 4. If not, Hamlin will be a lone wolf.

3. Ford’s Intermediate Track Crisis. Outside of a lucky win by Joey Logano at Atlanta, Ford has been invisible on 1.5-mile tracks. Brad Keselowski finished 11th at Texas, but that was the best of the Blue Oval brigade. Team Penske and RFK Racing need to find downforce and grip—fast. The summer schedule is loaded with intermediate tracks.

4. The Next Gen Car is Still a Mystery. The Texas race featured a lot of single-file racing until the final restart. The Next Gen car still struggles with passing on worn tires. NASCAR needs to consider aero package changes for 2027 to promote better racing on tracks like Texas.

Predictions for the Next Race at Darlington

Based on the trends we saw at Texas, here are three bold predictions for the Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway:

• Chase Elliott wins again. Darlington rewards drivers who can save tires. Elliott is the best in the business at that.
• Kyle Larson bounces back. Larson finished 10th at Texas but was invisible. Darlington is his playground—he has three wins there. Expect him to be a factor.
• Ryan Blaney misses the playoffs. If Blaney doesn’t win at Darlington or Charlotte, his points cushion will evaporate. I predict he fails to win and misses the cut.

Strong Conclusion: The New King of Texas

As the sun set on Texas Motor Speedway, Chase Elliott stood on top of his No. 9 Chevrolet, holding a cowboy hat and a bottle of sweet tea—a nod to the Lone Star State. It was a scene that felt both familiar and fresh. Familiar, because Elliott has been here before. Fresh, because this version of Elliott is more complete than ever. He’s no longer just the sport’s most popular driver; he’s its most dangerous one.

The winners and losers from the Wurth 400 will be debated on talk shows and social media all week. But one truth is undeniable: the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series runs through the state of Georgia. Chase Elliott is the man to beat, and Texas was just another chapter in his growing legend. For the rest of the field, the message is clear—catch him if you can.

Check back for our full gallery of the best photos from the NASCAR Texas race, capturing every moment of the Wurth 400 action.

Source: Based on news from Yahoo Sports.