Chase Elliott, known for excelling on road courses in NASCAR‘s Cup Series, encountered difficulties during Sunday’s event at the Circuit of the Americas. Despite typically strong performances, Elliott fell back after a problematic pit stop, ending up far from the front runners.
Details of Elliott’s Lengthy Pit Stop
At the conclusion of Stage 1, Elliott experienced an unusually long pit stop, which negatively affected his position on the track. The delay raised concern among fans as Elliott dropped well behind the competition.
“The more I tried to be smooth with it, the worse I was,”
Elliott was heard saying over the radio just before the pit stop.
Following the stop, he rejoined the race in 36th place, a substantial drop considering his usual competitiveness.
Comparing Elliott’s Day to Other Drivers
Despite the troubles, Elliott’s situation was not the most difficult on the track. Brad Keselowski, for example, reentered the race nine seconds behind Elliott, also struggling to keep pace.
Elliott remained in contention to move forward during the event, yet the potential for recovery depended heavily on how well his car performed for the remainder of the race.
Implications of the Pit Stop Problem for Elliott’s Race
This setback highlights how crucial pit stops are in influencing race outcomes, especially in a field as competitive as the NASCAR Cup Series. With Elliott’s established road course skills, this incident at COTA could impact his overall race standing unless he manages to regain lost ground in the remaining laps.
"The more I tried to be smooth with it, the worse I was," Chase Elliott says.
The 9-team went for a lengthy stop and fix.
— Alan Cavanna (@AlanCavanna) March 1, 2026
