Kevin Harvick's Happy Hour presented by NASCAR on FOX Mar 30, 2026

Chase Elliott Interview After Winning at Martinsville | VICTORY LAP

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Concept

two-stopping

A “two-stopping” strategy means the team plans to pit twice during the race. That affects tires, fuel, and when you’re on track versus in the pits.

Concept

total team effort

“Total team effort” means the win isn’t just the driver’s doing. The pit crew, engineers, and strategists all have to perform well too.

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Martinsville

Martinsville is a NASCAR track where the racing is very close and the turns are tight. Because of that, pit stops and tire management matter a lot.

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last run

“Last run” means the final stretch of the race. That’s when tires and fuel really matter, and drivers try to make their best moves.

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something left in the tank

“Something left in the tank” means the car still has more speed available. The driver is trying not to use up everything too early.

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pit strategy

Pit strategy is the plan for when the team stops in the pits. The timing can help you stay fast longer and avoid losing positions.

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strategy called by Alan

“Strategy called by Alan” means the team leader made the race plan and decisions. Those calls can include when to pit and how to position the car for the best chance to win.

Concept

“Jump start our day” is a strategy phrase meaning the team made an early move that put them into contention sooner than expected. In NASCAR terms, it often points to pit timing that gains track position or sets up a better tire window.

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in the mix

Being “in the mix” means running among the front group and having a realistic chance to contend for position. In NASCAR, that’s often the result of strategy, pit timing, and managing tire wear so you can make moves late.

Company

Alan Gustafson

Alan Gustafson is the crew chief—basically the person in charge of the race plan for the car. He helps decide things like when to pit, which can be the difference between winning and losing.

Concept

pitted

“Pitted” means the race car went into the pit lane to get serviced. Usually that’s for things like tires, and it’s a big part of race strategy.

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restart

A “restart” is when the race starts running fast again after a caution. It’s a key moment because positions can change quickly right away.

Concept

caution

A “caution” is when NASCAR slows the field due to an on-track incident, usually controlled by a yellow flag. Cautions can drastically reshape strategy because teams may pit under caution and because the field bunches up, changing relative track position.

Concept

capitalize

To “capitalize” means to take advantage of a good opportunity. In racing, that often means turning the right timing into a strong finish or even a win.

Concept

early in the season

“Early in the season” matters because NASCAR points and momentum are built over the full year, and early wins can set a team’s tone. A strong start can also influence confidence in car setup and strategy decisions as the season progresses.

Concept

off season type off weekend break

An “off weekend” is a time when there isn’t a race. Teams use it to look back at what happened and get ready for the next race.

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rhythm

“Rhythm” is about getting into a groove where the car feels right and the team can repeat what’s working. Instead of struggling, they can stay consistent from lap to lap.

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off weeks

An “off week” in NASCAR is a break between races where teams use the downtime for car evaluation, testing, and preparation for the next event. It’s also a chance to regroup on strategy and make adjustments based on recent performance.

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short track

A “short track” is a smaller NASCAR oval. Because the turns come up quickly and the racing is tighter, the cars have to be set up to grip well and stay stable while drivers run close together.

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new body change

“New body change” refers to NASCAR’s ongoing car body/packaging updates that affect aerodynamics, cooling, and overall handling characteristics. When the body changes, teams must rework setups and driving inputs because the car can behave differently at speed and in traffic.

Concept

Bristol

Bristol refers to Bristol Motor Speedway, a NASCAR track known for its short length and high tire/handling demands. Because it’s so demanding, teams often use Bristol as a “test” to see whether their latest setup and aerodynamic learnings are working.

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inside the company walls

“Inside the company walls” suggests the team will focus on internal development work—engineering meetings, data analysis, and planning—rather than track time. In NASCAR, that often means translating race data into setup changes for the next race.

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detail oriented

“Detail oriented” highlights how NASCAR teams rely on fine-grained engineering and process control. Small changes in setup, measurement, and execution can compound over a season, especially when rules or bodywork change.

Concept

notebook from 2022 all the way through 2025

A “notebook” here implies a structured development log—tracking test results, race data, and lessons learned across multiple seasons. That kind of continuous documentation is how teams turn incremental changes into a competitive package for a new car generation.

Concept

fine tuning and tweaking

That phrase means making small adjustments after testing and feedback. The goal is to get the car to feel right and perform consistently, not just “try something new.”

Concept

diagnose

To diagnose means to figure out why something isn’t working the way you want. In racing, you usually check clues from the car and the driver, and you may need a couple tries to be sure.

LIVE

At the time, when we first pitted, I didn't know we were two-stopping and I didn't know

that everyone else wasn't.

I thought, man, this could really work out well for us.

It was awesome.

Definitely a total team effort.

Welcome into the Victory Lap.

I'm Caitlin Vinci.

So happy to have our Martinsville winner, Chase Elliott, joining the show.

And Chase, that win was impressive.

Every part of the team had to rise to the occasion to make that happen.

How validating was that victory for you?

Yeah, it was awesome.

Definitely a total team effort, like you said.

I mean, I thought just everything top to bottom certainly worked out and in our

favor, but, you know, Denny kept us honest that last run and, you know, always

fun to race him there.

He does such a good job at that track, you know, and knew he was going to

be tough when we got back to traffic.

So it was just trying to have something left in the tank there.

And yeah, obviously great strategy called by Alan to kind of jump start our day.

I thought our car was solid, but, you know, that got us up in the mix and gave

us a head-to-head shot.

So that was, that part was pretty fun and, you know, cool to be a part of.

Great win indeed.

And when you win at Martinsville, you get a very special trophy at the grandfather

clock. I know you already have one, but do you have a spot picked out in your

house? Are you going to have them side by side?

Or where are you going to put this new clock at a different room?

I don't, I don't know a good popular question and a good question.

I'm one that I don't have a great answer to at the moment.

I'm not super organized with my trophies to be honest.

So I'm not really sure I aspire to be at some point in my life.

I just haven't got there yet, still growing up, I guess, in that area,

but I definitely want to try and acquire some more, you know,

throughout my figuring out period of what I'm going to do with them.

So, um, yeah, I don't know, but I actually never even got the first one

because it is in the museum in town.

So I had one from a truck race in my possession, but I actually never took

possession of the other one.

Okay.

So, uh, yeah, I, I intend on, on getting this one.

I don't know what I'm going to do with it yet, but I do intend on getting it.

I'm sure you will find a suitable spot for it.

Um, you referenced that alternate pit strategy that your crew chief Alan

Gustafson employed.

Um, you and him have been together 11 years.

How is that trust you've built so important in those pivotal moments like that?

Yeah, I think from my perspective, I just always have to remind myself

when something like that's going on, or at least he really just even have

the understanding of it going in that they have way more information than I

have at, you know, my fingertips when I'm driving the car.

So I just trust that, Hey, he has the full picture way more than I do.

And, and at the end of the day, if he feels confident in, in making a move

and this being the right one, then that's what it is.

And that's what it needs to be.

And that's what I'm going to support and try to make it go, uh, the best I

can behind the wheel.

So, uh, at the time, you know, when we first pitted, I, I didn't know

we were two stopping and I didn't know that everyone else wasn't.

Um, you know, that's not something that you're really talking about while

you're, you know, while you're racing.

But once the picture got clear to me as to what was going on, I thought,

man, this could really work out well for us.

Like, even if it went green and I was kind of hoping it was going to go green.

Um, you know, at that point in time, but yeah, caught a caution at the right

time and, and ended up playing into our favor that way too.

So I think it was actually good on, on both sides of the fence, regardless

of how it turned out to at least give ourselves a chance.

And yeah, fortunately it, uh, it worked out that way.

Yeah.

And you capitalize with that chance getting a win early in the season too.

I know you mentioned that after the race, why is that so big for, for you

and the organization, especially going into a break at a little off season type

off weekend break?

Yeah.

You know, it's, um, for whatever reason they are, our wins throughout the

course of my career, whether it be this car or in, in the old car, we just

always seem to kind of struggle through the first part of the year.

I don't really have a good reason as to why that, why that is.

Um, but it seemed like it's taken us a little while to get a win.

So just really cool and honestly, just a little bit of a different

sensation, different feeling to have a win early in the year like this.

And, um, I think we've come close in the past, but, you know, had a great

shot at Vegas and then have another shot here at Martinsville, uh, has been, you

know, refreshing and fun and, um, cool to be a part of.

So yeah, I think it's a great opportunity for us to build on that now, you know,

and, and try and, and get some more throughout the year and fall into a good

rhythm.

And then like you said, you know, normally you're only enjoying these

things for a few days at the most.

Um, so at least we get a few more days to enjoy it selfishly and you know,

kind of going into an off weeks, kind of, kind of fun and cool and different.

And, um, you know, we'll enjoy it for a few more extra days and we'll get

ready for Bristol and go from there.

You mentioned Bristol.

What's kind of the expectation going to that racetrack?

Just on your past experiences and yet another short track.

Yeah, you know, I look forward to going.

I think it's been a good track.

We've had some good runs throughout the course of time.

No, no points wins.

We've, you know, one that all started race up there that year they had it.

Um, and outside that, I feel like it's just been a lot of close calls.

Like a lot of, a lot of seconds, a lot of thirds.

It seems like, um, and, and some really solid races, but nothing that's

like, you know, really been dominant or gotten over that hump throughout

the entire, you know, entire 500 lap.

So I hope this trip is a little different.

You know, I think we've learned a lot of good stuff throughout the

course of this season that we can apply there.

I think we're still going through a little bit of a learning curve and a

you know, learning process with our new body change on the Chevy camp.

And we just got to keep working through that and keep our, you know,

keep putting our heads together on how we continue to make that better,

you know, each week.

So Bristol be another, another good test.

And, and also, you know, while it is an off week away from the racetrack,

it is an extra week for us to, to put our heads together and figure out

how we can be better when we, when we show up to the track again.

So I think it's important for us to take advantage of that as well, you know,

inside the company walls and, um, I think we'll, we'll do that.

So excited to see where that shakes out, you know, when we get to Bristol.

Yeah.

You mentioned the new body change.

Obviously that was a big topic going into the season now that we've

got two months or so into the year.

What is your assessment of that?

And what all goes into getting used to that that people may not,

the general public may not realize when you make a big change

like that with the team.

Yeah, there's, it's just a lot of little details.

And I think what we do nowadays is just extremely detail oriented.

Everything, everything about what we do is all in the, it's all in the stuff

that doesn't really even meet the eye when you look at it.

You know, these, these cars don't look a lot different car to car,

but there are just tiny little details and tiny little setup differences that,

you know, end up making kind of making somebody good or making them great

on, on the weekends, on any given weekend.

So when, when you have a body change like that, typically you have some sort

of an arrow balance shift, um, you know, whether you're going more to the rear

or going more to the front or whatever it is.

There's typically some sort of a change.

And then, you know, with that, how do you balance out the just general

balance of the car from a chassis standpoint and, and marrying those

two things together is really important for us to have the cars driving

and reacting to our inputs the way that we want.

And, um, you know, we've obviously had a pretty significant notebook

from 2022 all the way through 2025 of one thing.

And that's led us down a lot of different roads that ultimately led to kind of what

we had in the next gen car, right?

So you, you make a big change like that and it just takes some time to,

to kind of reassess some of those notes and what's real and what needs,

you know, a little bit of fine tuning and tweaking.

It's not like it's totally out to lunch, but it might not be exactly the same.

And sometimes that takes a trip or two to attract to diagnose.

You mentioned getting to enjoy this win for a couple of extra days

because we have the off week.

Any exciting off week plans?

What will you be doing over the time?

You don't have to be in a race car.

Yeah.

I honestly don't really have any plans this year.

Oh, I mean, I'm not going anywhere or anything.

So I honestly just excited to not go anywhere.

Exactly.

Then then kind of wide open.

I feel like through the course of this first stretch of races.

So yeah, looking forward to, to hanging around home and,

yeah, knocking out some spring cleaning and chores and things that need to get done.

So looking forward to that and, you know, not, yeah, hanging out and obviously

Easter weekend and enjoy that with family and, and I hope everybody has a,

has a good one out there watching as well.

Well, you enjoy that spring cleaning, find a place for that new trophy.

Chase, always great to see you.

Congratulations on your win at Martinville.

Thanks for your time.

Appreciate it.

Thank you.

About this episode

Chase Elliott breaks down his Martinsville win, crediting a team effort and a bold alternate pit strategy from crew chief Alan Gustafson. Elliott explains how he didn’t realize they were two-stopping until later, then saw the plan could pay off when a caution fell at the right time. He also talks about the value of trust built over 11 years, the significance of finally winning early in the season, and what to expect at Bristol—another short track with a learning curve tied to Chevrolet’s new body change. He plans a low-key off week at home.

Alan Gustafson Bristol caution detail oriented diagnose early in the season fine tuning and tweaking inside the company walls in the mix jump start our day

Original notes

Chase Elliott breaks down his NASCAR Cup Series win at Martinsville Speedway, detailing the late-race pit strategy that secured the victory, what the win means for his team’s momentum, and how he is approaching the upcoming stretch of the season including Bristol. In this week’s Victory Lap on Kevin Harvick’s Happy Hour, Kaitlyn Vincie sits down with Elliott to discuss the critical decisions that led to the win, how his team executed under pressure, what three top-10 finishes to start the season say about their performance, how they plan to use the bye week to improve, and what to expect as they prepare for the next race at Bristol Motor Speedway. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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