“We Had Our Issues!” Chase Elliott Bemoans Las Vegas Cup Race Loss to Denny Hamlin

2020 NASCAR Cup Champion Chase Elliott is clearly disappointed after losing the Las Vegas Cup Series race on Sunday.

“We Had Our Issues!” Chase Elliott Bemoans Las Vegas Cup Race Loss to Denny Hamlin

Denny Hamlin and Chase Elliott (Via @NASCAR/X and @chaseelliott/X)

The 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season so far hasn’t been kind to Chevy and Chase Elliott. While both Ford and Toyota have secured win this season, they OEM with the most cars in the garage is struggling. The closer they came to winning an event was this Sunday at Las Vegas, but Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota was too fast them to beat.

Denny Hamlin won the Pennzoil 400, beating Elliott who finished P2, overcoming a pit-speeding penalty. After the race, the No:9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevy driver shared his thoughts on the loss. He was disappointed over the failure to take advantage of the No:11 Toyota getting tight at the end but at the same time they were able to contend for wins the first time in 2026.

I thought there might be an opportunity. I knew he [Hamlin] was starting to get tight there at the end of runs. … As bummed as I am to come up that close to a win, I have to bring myself back to a reality check in just how much better we ran today than we’ve been running.

Chase Elliott said post-race.

The 2020 Cup champion asserted that that they had a solid day, despite scoring the most disappointing finish a racer could have had, P2. Chase Elliott admitted that though Denny Hamlin was racing strong towards the end if he was tidier in the final couple of laps, there would have been a solid opportunity for win there for him.

It was a really solid day. Obviously, bummed to come up that short. Wish I could’ve pieced together just a little better couple laps towards the end. Trying to be as tidy as I could be, but he [Hamlin] did a really good job.  … I don’t know, just kind a mixed feeling.

Chase Elliott added via Heavy.com.

Further talking about the point, the veteran racer admitted that at the start of the race the car wasn’t running as good as he wanted and it came alive towards the end of the event, but it was a little late. But he is determined to take advantage of the momentum and fight for more wins in the coming weekends.

We had our issues, too, but I thought we got our car much better there by the end of the race. We’ve just got to keep chipping away at it. … We’ll have plenty of opportunities. It’s just about taking today and building.

Chase Elliott asserted.

NASCAR insider feels its time for fans to worry about Chase Elliott and other Chevy drivers

After the race, on his Fast Thoughts segment, Fox Sports’ senior journalist Bob Pockrass sent a clear warning to the Chevy fans. He pointed out that it might the time for them to start panicking a bit about their season, as with the current form of the cars none of the Chevy drivers will win races this season.

Chase Elliott and Kyle Larson
Chase Elliott and Kyle Larson (Via IMAGO)

If you are a Chevy fan, are you worried after Las Vegas? Yes! I think you should be. I am not saying you should be panicked. Throw away the season. There’s no hope. You are not gonna win races. You are not gonna vie for the title. I am not saying that. But I think you are worried after Las Vegas.

Bob Pockrass via Fast Thoughts.

His comments are on point, as Ford and Toyota seem to have found the key to success with the horsepower increase. But considering Chevy is the side that gets the most investments and has the likes of Kyle Larson in their garage, they can get back on victory lane with few tweaks to the car as well as some hard work.

Also Read: “Dad’s Still Saying That’s My Boy!” Denny Hamlin Emotional After Maiden Win of 2026 After Tragic Off-Season