Chase Elliott claimed his first NASCAR Cup Series victory of the 2024 season in dramatic fashion, holding off the field in a thrilling double overtime finish in Sunday’s Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 400 at Texas Motor Speedway.

The 2020 Cup champion and perennial Most Popular Driver earned his first win in 42 races dating back to October 2022 by surviving a wild closing stretch that included three late restarts. Elliott prevailed over Brad Keselowski in a race that lasted over 3.5 hours and featured a track-record 16 caution periods.

“It couldn’t feel any better,” said a smiling Elliott, who celebrated with a reverse victory lap honoring the late Alan Kulwicki. “We’ve been working really hard and really well together. We’ve enjoyed the fight together.”

The closing laps were a drama-filled frenzy. With two laps left in regulation, Elliott and Denny Hamlin raced side-by-side for the lead before Hamlin hit the wall to bring out the first overtime restart. Elliott then held off Ross Chastain on that restart before another caution came out a lap into overtime, forcing another restart.

Elliott surged ahead on the final OT restart and was leading when Byron’s contact with Chastain ended the race under yellow. Chastain, who led 33 laps, ended up 32nd while Hamlin placed 30th after pacing 37 laps.

“It was crazy,” Elliott said after notching his first Texas victory. “I couldn’t be more proud of our team.”

The race featured 23 lead changes among 13 drivers as pit strategy and issues on pit road played a major role. Kyle Larson started on the pole and led a race-high 77 laps but lost two laps after a tire came off his car to relegate him to 21st place.

William Byron finished third followed by Tyler Reddick and Daniel Suarez rounding out the top five. The NASCAR Cup Series heads to Talladega Superspeedway next Sunday.