Chase Elliott captured his third Duel victory at Daytona by maneuvering his No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet to a narrow win without any caution interruptions. On Lap 53, Elliott took the lead and narrowly held off Carson Hocevar by just 0.065 seconds to finish first in the second Duel race. This notable win places Elliott among a select trio of Hendrick Motorsports drivers who have achieved multiple Duel victories.
Joey Logano won the first Duel race, while Kyle Busch earned the pole position. For the upcoming main event on Sunday, Busch and Chase Briscoe will start at the front row, with Logano and Elliott occupying the second row, and Ryan Blaney along with Hocevar beginning behind them.
Strong Starting Position at Daytona Offers Advantage but No Guarantees
Beginning the big race from the fourth position gives Elliott a favorable starting spot, often called the “catbird seat.” However, he remains cautious about celebrating too soon. Daytona’s drafting dynamics mean that the order can change drastically once the intense racing begins, especially when teams shift from fuel conservation to aggressive positioning.
Elliott’s experience at this track has taught him to temper expectations even after a Duel win because the real challenge is the main event, not the preliminary races. The unpredictability of Daytona’s pack racing makes every lap on Sunday critical.
“Winning at Daytona is always good, but Sunday is what we want. So, yeah, it’s one of those things where it’s great, and it’s a great way to start the season always. And these races are great opportunities to kind of just get your feet wet and get yourself in some situations on track that get the blood pumping, which is good,”
Chase Elliott, Hendrick Motorsports driver
“But you kind of have to cautiously enjoy nights like Thursday night, right, because Sunday’s what we want. And so, really just my mind, having been in this situation before, my mind’s really just kind of on to Sunday already and just thinking about what we might need out of our car to improve from where we were tonight,”
Chase Elliott, Hendrick Motorsports driver
Importance of Pit Selection and Lessons from Past Experiences
One of the most valuable outcomes from Elliott’s Duel victory is securing a prime pit stall, which is critical at Daytona, where efficient pit stops can influence race outcomes significantly. Elliott and his team executed their strategy flawlessly to ensure this advantage heading into the 500-mile race.
Despite the optimism that comes with a Duel win, Elliott approaches the weekend with a level-headed perspective rooted in past lessons. He has previously won Duel races in 2017 and 2018, yet those successes did not translate into strong finishes in the Daytona 500 itself.
For instance, in 2017, Elliott started from the pole position, led 39 laps, and appeared poised to win, but ran out of fuel in the final laps. Other frontrunners like Kyle Larson and Martin Truex Jr. also suffered from fuel shortages, allowing Kurt Busch to take the victory as Elliott finished in 14th place.
The following year, starting fourth once again, Elliott’s race ended prematurely due to a crash on Lap 102. Ryan Blaney’s block on the backstretch caused Elliott to collide with the wall, collecting Danica Patrick and Kasey Kahne as well, forcing Elliott to retire and finish 33rd.
These experiences underline Elliott’s cautious optimism: Duel wins set the stage but do not guarantee success when the main event unfolds.
Looking Ahead to the Daytona 500 Battle
Chase Elliott’s Duel victory has turned heads and offers a promising lead-in to the Daytona 500, but the seasoned driver remains intensely focused on the challenges ahead. With Kyle Busch and Chase Briscoe starting alongside him in the top rows, and competitors like Joey Logano, Ryan Blaney, and Carson Hocevar close behind, the race promises to test strategy, endurance, and skill over the full 500 miles.
The significance of securing a good starting spot and pit selection cannot be overstated at Daytona, a track known for its unpredictability and fast-paced pack racing. Elliott’s reflective outlook and historic understanding of the venue ensure that his team will refine their approach to improve their chances Sunday.
As the field prepares to launch into the main event, all eyes will be on Elliott and Hendrick Motorsports to see if this Duel victory will translate into the long-sought Daytona 500 win that has eluded him despite his skill and experience.
9⃣ "Winning Daytona is always good, but Sunday's what we want."@chaseelliott reflects on his Duel No. 2 victory at the World Center of Racing and looks ahead to 500 miles this weekend with @TeamHendrick. pic.twitter.com/i0XkpaIfZA
— SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Ch. 90) (@SiriusXMNASCAR) February 13, 2026
