In NASCAR extra time for the O’Reilly Auto Components Sequence race at Chicagoland Speedway, Brandon Jones handed Cup star Chase Elliott for the win. Racing on older tires, he slid up in entrance of Elliott. Elliott tried to combat again, operating up towards the wall to select up momentum earlier than sending it underneath Jones into the ultimate nook, however Jones had the run to the road.
That was the eighth victory of Jones’ profession, delivering Joe Gibbs Racing its third win of the 2026 season.
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“I needed to earn that one,” stated Jones. “Have not had an thrilling one like that in a very long time. Thanks guys for sticking that one out by means of the rain, and every little thing … It has been an up-and-down 12 months. We have had some success early on, we have been in a little bit little bit of a rut the final couple of weeks, so it is good to do it like we did at present. We actually needed to earn that one.”
On battling a driver like Elliott, Jones added: “It says lots about simply how resilient we’re, and the way arduous we’re working at this. Chase made it actually tough on me. He is the most effective within the sport, so I knew he was going to be tough. We have been all on previous tires — that was a blast to slip round and duel it out like that.”
Elliott was after all disenchanted to come back up one spot wanting the checkered flag. He would not run many O’Reilly races today, final successful a NOAPS race at Charlotte throughout the 2024 season.
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“I do not assume that was the rationale why we misplaced (not having a restart push), by any means,” stated Elliott. “I do know that he [Jesse Love] was planning on giving me a superb push, and it was actually at that time about managing previous tires. Simply making an attempt to get a launch, extra so than getting a shove. Ended up having momentum going the fallacious approach into Flip 3 and I attempted to drive in actually arduous, acquired myself tremendous tight. Tremendous bummed about that, actually … Credit score to Brandon. He did a superb job, had a superb restart, and we stayed side-by-side by means of (Turns) 1 and a pair of. He had the momentum going the fitting approach into Flip 3, and I acquired myself in a nasty spot and paid the value.”
Jesse Love, Brent Crews, and Austin Hill stuffed out the rest of the highest 5. Justin Allgaier, Taylor Grey, Sam Mayer, Cole Custer, and Connor Zilisch stuffed out the remainder of the highest ten.
Phases 1 and a pair of
After a prolonged rain delay, the race lastly went inexperienced at 10:15pm EST. Zilisch dominated from pole place, and led the complete opening stage.
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Behind him, there have been loads of battles, and even some contact as driver moved everywhere in the observe. Allgaier and Grey each began deep within the area, however they shortly reduce by means of the pack.
Zilisch went on to win Stage 1 with a five-second benefit over Love, adopted by Day, Elliott, Creed, Grey, Mayer, Sawalich, Allgaier, and Alfredo.
Through the stage break, Zilisch misplaced gas strain from the lead and really wanted a push again to the pits. He managed to remain on the lead lap, however was now again within the mid-20s. He finally made his approach again into the highest ten.
Elliott received the race off pit highway and was in management for the restart. Very like Zilisch within the stage earlier than, Elliott dominated and received the stage with relative ease. He was adopted by Love, Grey, Allgaier, Mayer, Jones, Creed, Day, Zilisch, and Crews.
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Fog was additionally descending on the observe, making visibility a problem for spotters.
Stage 3Brandon Jones wins, No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota; adopted by Chase Elliott, No. 88 JR Motorsports Chevrolet and Jesse Love, No. 2 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
Brandon Jones wins, No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota; adopted by Chase Elliott, No. 88 JR Motorsports Chevrolet and Jesse Love, No. 2 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
Through the stage break, Jeremy Clements truly misplaced a wheel, leading to a two-lap penalty because the runaway wheel made all of it the best way again to the pit lane by itself.
Allgaier acquired despatched to the rear after a security valuation (crew member stepped into field with out carrying correct apparel).
On the restart, there was a stellar battle between Love and Elliott for the lead, with Elliott finally prevailing.
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Creed made an unscheduled pit cease underneath inexperienced for a tire problem, whereas Grey ran Elliott down for the race lead. He took management and drove away, however the first pure warning of the race adopted quickly after.
Zilisch’s once-promising night time was solely getting worse as he blew a tire after hitting the wall, with the tire carcass inflicting the yellow.
On the following restart, Elliott pulled off a formidable three-wide move on the apron to reclaim the lead, holding again Grey till the subsequent warning. As soon as once more, it was Zilisch, who went spinning from the excessive line.
This now put the complete area contained in the gas window, with simply over 40 laps remaining.
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R. Sieg received the race off pit highway after a fuel-only name to avoid wasting a set of tires, with Jones beating Elliott out as properly.
Jones moved into the lead on the restart, and the subsequent warning flew adopted shortly after as Sawalich went spinning down the backstretch. He lifted at nook exit, and acquired bumped from behind by his JGR teammate Crews.
Elliott made the choice to restart behind Jones on the surface for the subsequent restart, which put Grey on the entrance row. That labored out properly for him, as Grey moved into the race lead as Elliott and Jones battled back-and-forth in an exhilarating battle for second. That allowed Grey to drive off with the race lead.
With 16 laps to go, Sieg (who was on older tires than the remainder of the sphere), went for a half-spin. Now underneath warning, he tried to limp again round to the pits, just for the complete fender to get blown aside by a flat right-front tire.
Issues acquired very dramatic on the restart as the sphere fanned out four-wide for the race lead. Love briefly took command earlier than Elliott snatched it away, whereas Grey fell all the best way again exterior the highest 5.
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Elliott then moved into defensive mode towards a charging Jones, just for the warning to fly as soon as extra. Kyle Sieg collided with Patrick Staropoli, sending each vehicles spinning. Additionally they collected Brennan Poole and Lavar Scott as they spun down the observe.
On the ultimate restart, the second row struggled to get going, so Elliott and Jones have been left to battle side-by-side for a lot of the lap. Jones cleared Elliott simply earlier than the white flag, who responded by operating proper up subsequent to the wall, touching it as he picked up some momentum. He shot his automobile up the within of Jones into the ultimate nook, however Elliott did not have the exit pace, permitting Jones to clear him and take the win by 0.171s.
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