CONCORD, N.C. – Chase Elliott's road course prowess has him third on the all-time road course wins list and atop the active driver list with seven victories on serpentine layouts.
While each of those victories is unique in its own right, one win was notable for the milestones it helped both Hendrick Motorsports and Chevrolet reach. In Hendrick Motorsports' 40th anniversary, we look back at the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series champion's win at Circuit of The Americas on May 23, 2021.
RELATED: See all of Chase Elliott's wins at Hendrick Motorsports
The 20-turn, 3.41-mile road course in Austin, Texas, was one of several additions to the 2021 Cup Series schedule. The facility has been a staple on the Formula One schedule and this weekend marks its fourth year hosting a NASCAR national series tripleheader.
Coming into the 2021 race at COTA, Elliott was the defending Cup Series champion. While his title defense had gotten off to a strong start, including two runner-up finishes through the first 13 races, he had yet to win. That changed at COTA for the driver of the No. 9. Elliott took the lead under green on lap 50 and led the next five laps for the victory. Due to excessive standing water on the track from heavy rain, NASCAR called the race 14 laps short of the scheduled finish.
RELATED: Look back at every road course win for Hendrick Motorsports
"That race, in particular, was pretty wild with the rain and everything that was going on. One of the crazier races that I remember," Elliott recalled to HendrickMotorsports.com. "We were not going to make it on fuel. I was trying to get as big of a gap as I could because we were likely going to have to stop. I didn't want to lose any more spots than we had to.
"Fortunately for us, we took a gamble and it started raining hard enough that they felt it was time to pull the plug. We were the ones leading and got the win. It was a big one for Hendrick Motorsports and Chevrolet."
With Elliott's victory, Hendrick Motorsports tied Petty Enterprises' mark of 268 premier series wins, earning the 800th triumph in the Cup Series for manufacturer Chevrolet. Elliott and Hendrick Motorsports teammate Kyle Larson finished 1-2 in the race, one of three straight 1-2 finishes involving both drivers and one of seven top-two sweeps for the team that season. A week later, Larson's win in the Coca-Cola 600 would leave Hendrick Motorsports alone atop the mountain for most victories in the Cup Series.
"Getting into NASCAR, when I think how close we came to not making it and having to close the doors, and then think about the championships and the wins, it's just unbelievable," team owner Rick Hendrick said of the milestone. "It's just hard to believe that we've been able to put that many wins together."
PHOTOS: See every win for Hendrick Motorsports in the Cup Series
To date, all 303 of Hendrick Motorsports wins have come with Chevy. The organization accounts for 35.5% (303 of 854) of all Chevy Cup Series wins and 51.2% of all Chevy Cup Series wins since 1984.
A replica of Elliott's car from the race at COTA is on display at the NASCAR Hall of Fame's Victory Lane. It is complete with the Goodyear rain tires that the Dawsonville, Georgia, native raced on and the windshield wiper used in the race. You can also rewatch the race on the NASCAR Classics website.