Eight years after first win, Watkins Glen still evokes warm feelings for Chase Elliott

Watkins Glen hasn't been kind to Chase Elliott in recent years, but that hasn't stopped the two-time WGI winner from enjoying being back at the track where he scored his first NASCAR Cup Series win in 2018.

"I was kind of curious whether or not that would still be the case this year for as bad as we've run the last couple seasons, but it very much is alive and well," Elliott said Saturday at Watkins Glen. "Winning your first race is a really big deal. You don't pick where that happens if you're fortunate enough to get across that bridge. I think at that point, whether you like a place, or like a town, or it likes you or doesn't liked you, you are immediately attached in some way shape or form."

"I think that definitely happened with me and this place. it was a really great place to make a great memory. I don't think that will ever go away. At least, it hasn't. It's definitely a special thing to reflect on. "

Chase Elliott's recent Watkins Glen results

Elliott won again at Watkins Glen in 2019 before finishing as the runner-up to Kyle Larson in 2021 and losing again to Larson in 2022 after finishing fourth. 

Over the last three races at the New York road course, Elliott has struggled. He finished 32nd in 2023 after running out of fuel and finished 19th and 26th in 2024 and 2025, respectively. He hasn't led a lap at the course since 2022. 

His special tie to the track is all the more reason why he wants to be successful at Watkins Glen again. 

"I'm not coming up here to reminisce," Elliott said. "I'm coming up here to do a job."

Elliott's job will be a tough one on Sunday, as he'll start 26th in the Go Bowling at The Glen (3 p.m. ET, FS1, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) as he looks for a third Watkins Glen win and his third victory of 2026. Elliott is coming off of a win in the May 3 Cup Series race at Texas. 

Quotes provided by NASCAR Media.