Chase Elliott experienced a devastating loss in the Daytona 500 on Sunday in Daytona Beach, Florida, coming within feet of his first win at the iconic event before a dramatic last-lap crash ended his hopes. As fireworks celebrated Tyler Reddick’s victory at Daytona International Speedway, Elliott was left in disbelief, highlighting this year’s “Chase Elliott Daytona 500 heartbreak.”
Fans watched NASCAR’s most popular driver, 2020 Cup Series champion Chase Elliott, sit silently on the track wall, absorbing the magnitude of what had slipped away. Moments earlier, he appeared destined for triumph, just seconds from the finish line and on the verge of triggering a revered celebration back home in Dawsonville, Georgia. Instead, that iconic pool hall siren in his hometown remained silent, and the drama shifted toward Tyler Reddick and co-owner Michael Jordan’s 23XI Racing team, which capitalized on the late chaos for a headline-grabbing win.
The Final Lap: From Leading to Crashing Out
Elliott took control of the race on the last lap, following a spin by leader Carson Hocevar, and with only a short distance remaining, he seemed poised to claim his first Daytona 500 victory. However, disaster struck when Riley Herbst clipped the nose of Elliott’s Chevrolet, sending him into the wall and opening a lane for Tyler Reddick to claim the win for 23XI Racing—a significant moment for team co-owner Michael Jordan, who saw his organization take NASCAR’s biggest spotlight.
Reflecting on how the day unraveled, Elliott said,
“We were leading the Daytona 500 off (turn) four coming to the checkered flag,”
—Chase Elliott, Driver. But in a dramatic twist, he failed to secure the checkered flag he so desperately wanted, reinforcing the unpredictable nature of the event.
Hendrick Motorsports teammate William Byron commented on the heartbreak, saying,
“He had a great shot at it coming off four,”
—William Byron, Hendrick Motorsports Teammate. The disappointment echoed throughout the garage, with many feeling Elliott was robbed of a long-awaited win.
Persistence Amid Daytona Disappointments
Despite repeatedly showcasing speed at Daytona, including three qualifying race wins and two pole starts, Elliott’s efforts fell short once again, extending his winless streak to 0 for 11 in the Daytona 500. Past near-miss stories are common in the sport—Dale Earnhardt, Fireball Roberts, Donnie Allison, and Mark Martin all suffered memorable heartbreaks at Daytona, with Elliott now joining their ranks.
Elliott finished fourth, much like his runner-up position in 2021. His comments after the race captured both the heartbreak and the unrelenting pressure of superspeedway competition:
“I’m not the type of person that ever lets myself get there in the first place,”
—Chase Elliott, Driver. He recognized the unpredictable nature of the race, stating,
“I knew it wasn’t over. That’s part of this style of racing.”
—Chase Elliott, Driver.
Pivotal Moments and What Went Wrong
On that defining final lap, Elliott felt the momentum shifting rapidly.
“I just felt like Tyler was coming so quick,”
—Chase Elliott, Driver.
“I kind of blocked one direction. He went the other way.”
—Chase Elliott, Driver. The chess match at nearly 200 miles per hour left Elliott with little time to react, and his split-second decision didn’t pay off.
The race’s intensity was clear as three-time Daytona 500 winner Jeff Gordon, now an executive at Hendrick Motorsports, was seen atop the pit box, anxiously urging Elliott toward the finish. However, the last-lap accident devastated those hopes, with Elliott forced to watch Reddick, Herbst, and others continue through victory lane while his championship ambitions for the event were dashed.
Elliott’s Never-Ending Pursuit of Daytona Glory
At 30 years old and with 21 Cup Series wins, Elliott continues his chase for the sport’s top prize.
“You can run it through your mind 1,000 times, do you do something different,”
—Chase Elliott, Driver.
“I feel like if I had thrown a double block on (Reddick), 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.
Despite his continued disappointment at Daytona, Elliott remains a regular contender at the Great American Race, notching seven top-20 finishes in the past eight years, including a near-victory in 2021. The dream of emulating his father, Hall of Famer and two-time Daytona 500 champion Bill Elliott, keeps his resolve strong, with the hope that his moment will eventually come.
Looking Forward: The Drive Remains Unbroken
Elliott summed up his mindset in the aftermath of heartbreak:
“I think you have to trust in that a little bit; keep your head down, stay working, and if there’s a day and a time for us, then there is,”
—Chase Elliott, Driver.
“We’ll enjoy that moment if it ever comes.”
—Chase Elliott, Driver.
As Chase Elliott’s pursuit of a Daytona 500 victory enters another year, the intensity and unpredictability of the event continue to define NASCAR’s greatest stage. For Elliott, his fan base, and the drivers before him who faced similar fates, the legacy of the Daytona 500 is shaped as much by heartbreak as by victory—and the belief persists that the heartbreak will one day turn into triumph.
@chaseelliott grabs the Daytona 500 pole for the 2nd year in a row. We are celebrating in Dawsonville!!! 🏁📢#NASCAR #2X pic.twitter.com/Vptpgpkyhs
— Dawsonville Pool Room (@DawsonPoolRoom) February 19, 2017
