Trackin' Trucks: Chase Elliott Victorious in CWTS at Martinsville

Chase Elliott in the garage at Atlanta

Credit: Charlotte Bray for Skirts and Scuffs   

by Courtney Horn

Chase Elliott earned his first grandfather clock, holding off GMS Racing teammate, Johnny Sauter, during the Alpha Energy Solutions 250.

Elliott led twice for a total of 92 laps, and claimed the checkers for stage 1. Towards the end, he found himself on the outside looking in after electing to pit earlier than the other leaders. He regained the lead on Lap 234 when contact from Christopher Bell sent Austin Cindric spinning. 

Elliott successfully held off Sauter for his second Camping World Truck Series victory, the first in almost four years.

“Johnny was coming and I had been trying to pressure (Bell) for laps and laps and laps,” Elliott said. “That’s the one downfall when you’re the leader – you can’t control what those guys are going to do ahead of you.”

Sauter finished second, but was straightforward with his comments at Martinsville Speedway.

“Chase did what had he did to win the race,” Sauter said. “Next time, I’ll do what I have to do.”

Bell and the No. 66 of Ross Chastain, who was carrying The University of South Carolina Gamecocks colors, battled back from incidents for third and seventh-place finishes, respectively. 

Chastain brought out the sixth caution of the evening when contact from Elliott on Lap 135 sent him spinning. 

A Look Ahead

The Camping World Truck Series returns on May 12th in Kansas. 

John Hunter Nemechek is in need of a good finish after misfortune the last two races. A broken kill switch at Martinsville ended his day, and he finished 28th. 

Last year Matt Crafton finished second after leading 55 laps, and Ryan Truex earned a top-10 finish. 

Catch Crafton, Truex and the Truck Series stars on May 12th on Fox Sports 1.