Chase Elliott was moments away from claiming victory in the 2024 Daytona 500 when a late-race incident derailed his hopes, ending with his car crossing the finish line backwards in a spectacular display of sparks. The Chase Elliott Daytona 500 finish left fans stunned as the No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet was overtaken by Tyler Reddick, who seized the win while Elliott, despite his efforts, finished fourth at Daytona International Speedway.
Intense Battle Unfolds on Final Lap
The race reached its climax as Zane Smith from Front Row Motorsports provided a crucial push, launching Elliott into the lead off Turn 2. In the chaotic scramble behind them, Carson Hocevar and Erik Jones spun out, clearing the way for Elliott to surge forward. Elliott stayed ahead through the restart zone, appearing to have command of the race as the finish line approached.
However, Tyler Reddick found momentum on the inside lane just in time, making a decisive move past Elliott as they raced toward the checkered flag. As Elliott attempted to maintain his position, Riley Herbst made contact with the right-rear of Elliott’s Chevrolet, sending Elliott crashing into the outside wall and spinning across the line trailing sparks and debris.
Driver Describes the Critical Moments
Following the race, Chase Elliott reflected on the dramatic sequence that led to his disappointment, expressing frustration and the tough split-second decisions involved at such a high-stakes moment.
“We ended up kind of getting gifted the lead, and the 38 (Zane Smith) and I had got out by ourselves down the back,”
Elliott said after the race.
“He had given me a good shove off into (Turn) 3, and then it was kind of just he and I, and at that point, I just felt momentum shift, like there was going to be another run coming behind us there at some point. Unfortunately, that was accurate, and then at that point in time, you’re just on defense. Man, that’s a really, really tough place to be, truthfully. Obviously, looking back, you can run it through your mind 1,000 times, do you do something different? I feel like if I had thrown a double block on the 45, probably would have just crashed us at that point in time. I felt like you had to pick your battles. I thought maybe if somebody would pick me up on the top, you might have one more run to the line, but unfortunately ended up getting turned around.”
– Chase Elliott, Driver, Hendrick Motorsports
Despite the frustration, Elliott acknowledged the collective effort from his crew and the organizations supporting him throughout Speedweeks.
“Appreciate all the effort, everybody at Hendrick Motorsports, NAPA, Chevrolet, thought we had a good Speedweeks down here. This really sucks to be that close and come off Turn 4 with the lead and not finish it off.”
– Chase Elliott, Driver, Hendrick Motorsports
Looking Ahead After the Daytona Setback
Despite the setback in the Daytona 500, Elliott’s season remains on a strong footing. The fourth-place result secured him valuable points as he pursues a second NASCAR Cup Series championship under the sport’s current format. Next, Elliott returns to Atlanta’s EchoPark Speedway—his home track—where he captured a victory last summer. The upcoming race is set for next Sunday and will be broadcast on FOX, HBO Max, PRN Radio, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. The determined performance by Elliott in the Daytona 500, coupled with support from sponsors like NAPA and his Hendrick Motorsports team, sets a competitive tone for the rest of his campaign, as he looks to turn resilience into future wins.
